third degree

¹

noun

1. intensive questioning or rough treatment, especially by the police, in order to get information or a confession.
2. the degree of master mason in Freemasonry.

third-degree

²

[ thurd-di-gree ]

verb (used with object)

, third-de·greed, third-de·gree·ing.

1. to subject to the third degree.

adjective

1. of or relating to the third degree.

third degree

noun

1. informal.
   torture or bullying, esp used to extort confessions or information

Word History and Origins

Origin of third degree¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Origin of third degree²

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Idioms and Phrases

Intensive questioning or rough treatment used to obtain information or a confession, as in The detectives gave her the third degree , or Jim gave her the third degree when she came home so late . This term comes from freemasonry, where a candidate receives the third or highest degree, that of master mason, upon passing an intensive test. Dating from the 1770s, the phrase was transferred to other kinds of interrogation in the late 1800s.

Example Sentences

Charges against him run from criminal sexual conduct in the third degree to kidnapping and criminal sexual conduct in the first degree during commission of a felony.

From Los Angeles Times

In December, Majors was found guilty in a split verdict of assault in the third degree and harassment in the second degree after a fiery two-week trial.

From Los Angeles Times

After a fiery two-week trial in December, a Manhattan jury found Majors guilty in December for one count of assault in the third degree and one count of harassment in the second degree against Jabbari.

From Los Angeles Times

The “Creed III” actor was found guilty of one count of assault in the third degree and one count of harassment in the second degree against accuser and ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari.

From Los Angeles Times

He was eventually convicted of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment.

From Salon