dissertation
Americannoun
-
a written essay, treatise, or thesis, especially one written by a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
-
any formal discourse in speech or writing.
noun
-
a written thesis, often based on original research, usually required for a higher degree
-
a formal discourse
Other Word Forms
- dissertational adjective
- dissertationist noun
Etymology
Origin of dissertation
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin dissertātiōn-, stem of dissertātiō, equivalent to dissert + -ation
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She was hired by Bank of America while still working on her dissertation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
At university in Birmingham, he is finishing a Masters dissertation on second homes and the effectiveness of new developments in Cornwall - an issue close to his heart.
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026
She wrote her dissertation about serial killers decades ago, and as an author gravitates to storytelling about marginalized women.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026
"I'm including historical east coast wolves in a separate chapter of my dissertation comparing skull morphology between coastal and inland populations," he says.
From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026
She went on to write a PhD dissertation on the effect of formal rhetoric on Shakespeare’s language, and remained an evangelist for the use of the trivium in education.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
