dissertation

[ dis-er-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a written essay, treatise, or thesis, especially one written by a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
2. any formal discourse in speech or writing.

dissertation

/ ˌdɪsəˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a written thesis, often based on original research, usually required for a higher degree
2. a formal discourse

Derived Forms

• ˌdisserˈtational, adjective
• ˌdisserˈtationist, noun

Other Words From

• disser·tation·al adjective
• disser·tation·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dissertation¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin dissertātiōn-, stem of dissertātiō, equivalent to dissert + -ation

Example Sentences

This included one example of a student trying to write a dissertation on their mobile phone.

From BBC

Adam Cliff said he first got interested in the issue as a teenager, and wrote his university dissertation on it.

From BBC

Now overseeing England's defence, Hunter was a star interviewee for Westcombe-Evans' dissertation on the barriers female coaches face in rugby.

From BBC

She studies at an art college in London and said the collection, and the comments it had generated, would form the basis of her final year dissertation.

From BBC

Decades later, Reykdal’s interviews with a small circle of those involved in the long-ago deaths gets smaller when one of them is killed, and his dissertation morphs into an all-consuming investigation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• essay
• monograph
• treatise