PhD
3 synonyms for PhD, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The highest standard university degree, awarded for original research written up as a thesis and defended before examiners.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
doctoral degree
DPhil
How to use PhD
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
do a PhD
PhD student
PhD thesis
PhD candidate
PhD in physics
Neutral. Write 'Jane Ellis PhD' or 'Dr Jane Ellis', never both together.
Etymology
An abbreviation of Latin philosophiae doctor, 'teacher of philosophy', where philosophy carries its old broad sense of learning in general.
Full origin of PhD →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a PhD and a doctorate?
Every PhD is a doctorate, but not every doctorate is a PhD. A PhD is the research doctorate; professional doctorates such as MD, EdD, JD or DBA are awarded on different grounds and often focus on practice rather than original research.
Is it written PhD, Ph.D. or PHD?
PhD is standard in British usage and Ph.D. in traditional American usage. PHD in full capitals is incorrect, because the h is not the initial of a separate word.
Can someone with a PhD be called Doctor?
Yes. The title Dr belongs to anyone holding a doctorate, and academic use of it predates its use by physicians.
