degree

The word “degree” means an academic qualification awarded by a college or university on completion of a course of study. In plain terms, a qualification from higher education, a unit for measuring angles/temperature, or simply a level or extent of something.

“Degree” is pronounced dih-GREE (/dɪˈɡɹiː/ in IPA).

Here is “degree” used in a sentence: “She earned a degree in biology before going to medical school.”

Words with a similar meaning to “degree” include compass, grade, level, magnitude and scale.

“Degree” is a noun.

The word “degree” comes from Latin. From Old French degré, from Latin gradus ("step"), with the prefix dē- added — literally "a step down or along.".

“Degree” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Degree” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an academic qualification awarded by a college or university on completion of a course of study.

Degrees are ranked by level. An associate degree comes first in some countries, followed by a bachelor's degree (the standard undergraduate qualification), then a master's degree, and finally a doctorate such as a PhD. Each builds on the last and generally requires deeper, more specialised study.

A degree is a higher academic qualification awarded by a university, usually after three or more years of study. A diploma is typically shorter and more focused, often vocational, and may be offered by colleges as well as universities. In academic level, degrees generally rank above diplomas.

A bachelor's degree is the standard undergraduate qualification, usually taking three to four years and covering a subject broadly. A master's is a postgraduate degree taken afterwards, normally one to two years, that goes deeper into a specialised area. You generally need a bachelor's before starting a master's.

It depends on the level and country. A bachelor's degree typically takes three to four years of full-time study, a master's one to two more, and a doctorate several years beyond that. Studying part-time spreads the same course over a longer period, often while the student works.