Phd

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An advanced academic degree awarded for original research and contributions to a specific field
2. A postgraduate qualification signifying high-level expertise in a particular discipline through rigorous study and dissertation work
3. A title conferred upon individuals who have completed extensive research, typically involving a thesis that contributes new knowledge to their field of study

Etymology: The abbreviation "PhD" stands for "Philosophiae Doctor," Latin for "Doctor of Philosophy," but the degree it names is much younger than its Latin label suggests. Universities in medieval Europe did award doctorates in philosophy, which at the time covered most of learning, but the modern research doctorate took shape in Germany in the early 19th century, with the University of Berlin founded in 1810 among its models. The degree spread to the United States in the later 1800s, where Johns Hopkins University began awarding PhDs in 1876. The letters are a shorthand, not a single word with a long chain of transmission. English speakers adopted "PhD" as an abbreviation of the Latin phrase, and the abbreviation is what gave rise to the common use of "doctorate" and "doctor" as its informal labels. The Latin phrase itself has no special connection to the research emphasis that defines the modern degree; the name stayed fixed while the content changed.

Synonyms: doctorate, doctoral degree, doctorate degree