third degree

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: the subjection of a prisoner to mental or physical torture to extract a confession
In its ruling the Court also criticized contemporary interrogation practices, finding in effect that a psychological third degree had replaced the physical third degree.Edwin Dobb
b
: a long and intense period of questioning
I don't know what kind of first dates you are having, but it might benefit you to make them more casual … so a conversation won't become a third degree.Abigail Van Buren
usually used with the
My mother put me through the third degree. Questions—questions—questions. She's driving me nuts!Judy Blume
Should anyone give you the third degree on your return to work, don't hesitate to become indignant and stomp out of the room.Jeff Foxworthy
2
US : the level of a crime that is less than second degree and warrants less severe punishment

third-degree

2 of 2

adjective

third-de·​gree ˈthərd-di-ˈgrē How to pronounce third-degree (audio)
1
US, of a crime : of a level of seriousness that is less than second-degree : warranting punishment but less severe punishment than that for a second-degree crime
2
: causing or characterized by a severe level of injury
a third-degree concussion
see also third-degree burn

Examples of third degree in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Majors was convicted of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment following the trial. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2024 That third degree misdemeanor has followed me since then. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 Kennedy had second and third degree burns on her arm, hands, stomach and thighs, WJW reported. Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2024 The actor was found not guilty of misdemeanor assault in the third degree with intent to cause physical injury, and misdemeanor aggravated harassment in the second degree. Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2024 The actor was found guilty of reckless assault in the third degree, a misdemeanor, and of harassment in the second degree, which is a violation. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2023 Brito also is charged with a count of hindering prosecution in the third degree, and Juarez faces two counts of that charge. Mark Morales, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024 The jury decided that the now-former Marvel actor was guilty of recklessly assaulting in the third degree and harassing in the second degree his former girlfriend. Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2023 The former Marvel star was found guilty in December of the misdemeanor charge of reckless assault in the third degree and a harassment violation following his high-profile domestic violence case with his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2024
Adjective
In September 2021, the Cedar County prosecuting attorney charged five staff members with 13 counts of third-degree assault. Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024 The charge, which involves using a forged document with intent to defraud, is a third-degree felony carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison. Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 In July 2023, Bryan was arrested and charged with fourth-degree felony assault, third-degree robbery and harassment after an hours-long dispute with a woman was reported to police. Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 In Minnesota, Humphrey was convicted in August 2009 of felony second-degree assault and in May 2013 of felony third-degree assault, according to court records. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Last November, two serious fires broke out at Marathon, with the more severe one resulting in a worker sustaining third-degree burns over 80% of his body. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024 The driver was transported to Grady Hospital in Atlanta, having sustained second- and third-degree burns, NCST said. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024 In January, a judge sentenced a former Aurora police officer to 14 months in jail for criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault in the case. Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024 Ultimately, Roberts and Alson were convicted of third-degree criminal trespassing and sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation, but their attorneys filed appeals, AL.com reported. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'third degree.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of third degree was in 1865

Dictionary Entries Near third degree

third-degree

third degree

third-degree burn

Cite this Entry

“Third degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/third%20degree. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

third degree

noun
: brutal treatment of a prisoner by the police in order to get a confession

Medical Definition

third-degree

adjective
: causing or characterized by a severe level of injury
Third-degree frostbite involves skin and deeper subcutaneous tissues, resulting in the formation of hemorrhagic blisters as well as skin necrosis with permanent nerve damage.Emergency Medicine Reports
see also third-degree burn compare first-degree, second-degree

Legal Definition

third degree

noun
: the grade given to the third most serious forms of crimes
third-degree adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!