Doctoral

[ˈdɒktərəl]

adjectivemedium📊CommonAcademic
1 meaning3 questions

Definitions

1

Relating to or of the nature of a doctorate, the highest degree awarded by a university.

[ˈdɒktərəl]

adjectiveneutralmedium
Academic

Relating to or characteristic of a doctorate.

She is pursuing a doctoral degree in astrophysics.

💡 Simply: Think of it as something that has to do with the highest level of education you can get, like getting a 'PhD' or a 'Dr.' title. It involves lots of learning and research!

👶 For kids: Like a super smart homework that grown-ups do at the very best school!

More Examples

2

The doctoral candidate presented their research findings.

3

A doctoral student must conduct original research.

How It's Used

Education

"The university offers doctoral programs in various fields."

Academic

"A doctoral dissertation is a significant requirement for the degree."

Synonyms & Antonyms

From Latin *doctoralis*, relating to a doctor (teacher). It derives from *docēre* meaning 'to teach'.

Historically used in the context of higher education, reflecting a growing emphasis on specialized knowledge and research.

Memory tip

Think of the rigorous work and expertise associated with obtaining a doctorate.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"teacher"

doctoral degreedoctoral programdoctoral dissertationdoctoral studentdoctoral research

Common misspellings

doctorialdoctural

Usage

15%Spoken
85%Written