doctorate

noun

doc·​tor·​ate ˈdäk-t(ə-)rət How to pronounce doctorate (audio)
: the degree, title, or rank of a doctor

Examples of doctorate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Hernandez, 34, graduated from Kennedy High School and holds a doctorate in interdisciplinary learning and teaching. — Sophia Veneziano, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026 Dana Mackenzie holds a doctorate in mathematics from Princeton University. — Dana MacKenzie, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026 Yin earned a doctorate in computer music at the University of York. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 Romero earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from California State University, Long Beach, in addition to her doctorate from UC Riverside. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for doctorate

Word History

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doctorate was in 1570

Browse Nearby Words

doctorand
doctorate
doctorbird
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Cite this Entry

“Doctorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doctorate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

doctorate

noun
doc·​tor·​ate ˈdäk-t(ə-)rət How to pronounce doctorate (audio)
: the degree, title, or rank of a doctor
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