# degree

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪˈɡɹiː/ · frequency rank #1,217

## Definitions
1. A stage of proficiency or qualification in a course of study, now especially an award bestowed by a university/college, as a certification of academic achievement. (In the United States, can include secondary schools.)
2. A unit of measurement of angle equal to ¹⁄₃₆₀ of a circle's circumference.
3. A unit of measurement of temperature on any of several scales, such as Celsius or Fahrenheit.
4. The sum of the exponents of a term; the order of a polynomial.
5. The dimensionality of a field extension.
6. The number of edges that a vertex takes part in; a valency.
7. The number of logical connectives in a formula.
8. The curvature of a circular arc, expressed as the angle subtended by a fixed length of arc or chord.
9. A unit of measurement of latitude and longitude which together identify a location on the Earth's surface.
10. Any of the stages (like positive, comparative, superlative, elative) in the comparison of an adjective or an adverb.
11. A step on a set of stairs; the rung of a ladder.
12. An individual step, or stage, in any process or scale of values.
13. A stage of rank or privilege; social standing.
14. A ‘step’ in genealogical descent.
15. One's relative state or experience; way, manner.
16. The amount that an entity possesses a certain property; relative intensity, extent.

## Etymology
From Middle English degre, borrowed from Old French degré (French: degré), itself from Latin gradus, with the prefix de-.

## Easily confused with
- **Derek** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/degree-vs-derek)
- **degrees** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/degree-vs-degrees)
- **decree** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decree-vs-degree)
- **degrade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/degrade-vs-degree)
- **decrees** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decrees-vs-degree)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ddegree`, `degere`, `deggree`, `degre`, `degrree`, `dergee`, `dgeree`, `edgree`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/degree