third-degree

• in the third degree, 3rd degree

third-degree (not comparable)

1. At the third level of some system, particularly:
   1. (law) The least severe level of felony, typically involving a lack of planning and/or the presence of various mitigating factors.

      The jury found him guilty of third-degree murder since he had only meant to beat the clown, not to kill him.

   2. (of burns) An extremely severe level of damage, typically involving major scarring and damage to subcutaneous tissue as well as the epidermis.

• first-degree, second-degree, fourth-degree