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abbreviation or noun

Definition of phd, examples of phd in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'PhD.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

New Latin philosophiae doctor

1839, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near PhD

Cite this entry.

“PhD.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/PhD. Accessed 2 Sep. 2024.

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abbreviation for

• Doctor of Philosophy AlsoDPhil

Example Sentences

He also bragged about earning a PhD, a point Smerconish did not question.

Even his nametag played up his dweeby nature, labeling him “Mr. Gruber, PhD.”

Throughout her life, she faced public ridicule, legal persecution and, eventually, redemption through a PhD in clinical sexology.

“It is impossible by elections to choose normal people,” argues Yoram Gat, an Israeli software engineer with a PhD in statistics.

The son of Taiwanese immigrants, he grew up in California and earned his PhD in neuroscience at Stanford.

Damn few of them got it from me, I'm happy to say, and those that did, knew more about the subject than most PhD's.

It was a great diversion from the late nights working on my PhD.

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Definition of PhD noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• to do/have/be a PhD
• Anne Thomas, PhD
• acquire/​get/​lack (an) education/​training/ (British English) (some) qualifications
• receive/​provide somebody with training/​tuition
• develop/​design/​plan a curriculum/ (especially British English) course/ (North American English) program/​syllabus
• give/​go to/​attend a class/​lesson/​lecture/​seminar
• hold/​run/​conduct a class/​seminar/​workshop
• sign up for/​take a course/​classes/​lessons
• go to/​start preschool/​kindergarten/​nursery school
• be in (North American English) the first, second, etc. grade/ (British English) year 1, 2. etc. (at school)
• study/​take/​drop history/​chemistry/​German, etc.
• (British English) leave/​finish/​drop out of/ (North American English) quit school
• (North American English) graduate high school/​college
• be the victim/​target of bullying
• (British English) play truant from/ (both British English, informal) bunk off/​skive off school (= not go to school when you should)
• (both especially North American English) skip/​cut class/​school
• (British English) cheat in/ (North American English) cheat on an exam/​a test
• get/​be given a detention (for doing something)
• be expelled from/​be suspended from school
• do your homework/ (British English) revision/​a project on something
• work on/​write/​do/​submit an essay/​a dissertation/​a thesis/​an assignment/ (North American English) a paper
• finish/​complete your dissertation/​thesis/​studies/​coursework
• hand in/ (North American English) turn in your homework/​essay/​assignment/​paper
• study/​prepare/ (British English) revise/ (North American English) review/ (North American English, informal) cram for a test/​an exam
• take/ (both British English) do/​sit a test/​an exam
• (especially British English) mark/ (especially North American English) grade homework/​a test
• (British English) do well in/ (North American English) do well on/ (especially North American English, informal) ace a test/​an exam
• pass/​fail/ (especially North American English, informal) flunk a test/​an exam/​a class/​a course/​a subject
• apply to/​get into/​go to/​start college/ (British English) university
• leave/​graduate from law school/​college/ (British English) university (with a degree in computer science)
• study for/​take/ (British English) do/​complete a law degree/​a degree in physics
• (both North American English) major/​minor in biology/​philosophy
• earn/​receive/​be awarded/​get/​have/​hold a master’s degree/​a bachelor’s degree/​a PhD in economics
• dissertation

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• He got his PhD [= doctorate ] from Harvard.
• She has two PhDs . [=doctoral degrees]
• a PhD candidate [=a person who is trying to get a PhD]
• We're not hiring new PhDs at this point.
• Sheila Jones, PhD

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Meaning of PhD in English

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• associate's degree
• baccalaureate
• do a degree
• Doctor of Medicine
• doctorate in something
• Master of Arts
• Master of Science
• Master's degree
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education
• second degree
• summa cum laude

Ph.D. | Intermediate English

Translations of phd.

Get a quick, free translation!

Word of the Day

delaying tactics

actions that are intended to make something happen more slowly, in order to win an advantage

It’s not really my thing (How to say you don’t like something)

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Ph.D. Meaning: What Is a PhD?

In the world of learning and discovery, certain achievements stand out as symbols of dedication and expertise. A “Ph.D.” is one such milestone that marks a significant journey in education. It represents a level of mastery that goes beyond textbooks and into the realm of original thought. Let’s explore the journey and the accomplishments that this prestigious title signifies.

Ph.D. Meaning

What Does Ph.D. Mean?

Ph.D. stands for “ Doctor of Philosophy “. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it isn’t restricted to philosophy studies. A Ph.D. is the highest level of academic degree that can be awarded to students who have completed a significant piece of original research in their field of expertise.

Origins of Ph.D.

The concept of the PhD has evolved over time. Its roots can be traced back to the medieval European universities where the Latin term   “philosophiae doctor”  (teacher of philosophy) was first used. The PhD as we know it today started to take shape in the 19th century, signifying a shift toward modern research norms and hierarchies in academia.

Other Meanings of PhD

While the most common reference of PhD is directly related to the academic degree, the abbreviation could occasionally be used differently. For example, in informal settings, it might denote a deep, often humorous, ‘expertise’ in non-academic fields (e.g., someone jokingly being called a PhD in pop culture). However, such usage is colloquial and not officially recognized.

Commonly Confused Terms with PhD

Phd vs. doctorate.

• PhD : A specific type of doctorate focused on research and advancing knowledge.
• Doctorate : An umbrella term for the highest degree awarded in a field of study, which includes PhD but also other professional degrees.

PhD vs. Master’s

• PhD : This is often a multi-year program requiring original research and a dissertation; it typically follows the completion of a Master’s program.
• Master’s : A graduate degree that is obtained before a PhD and often involves less extensive research.
• PhD : Designed for those intending to pursue a career in research or academia.
• MD (Doctor of Medicine) : A professional degree for practicing physicians, more focused on clinical skills and patient care than on research.

PhD vs. EdD

• PhD (in Education) : Usually entails a strong focus on research and theoretical foundations of education.
• EdD (Doctor of Education) : Geared more toward the application of research and leadership within educational systems.

PhD vs. DBA

• PhD (in Business) : Often aimed at future researchers or academics, emphasizing theory and data-driven research.
• DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) : Focused on applying research to practical business leadership and management problems.

PhD vs. PostDoc

• PhD : The degree one earns after successful completion of doctoral studies.
• PostDoc : A stage of further research employment, or training pursued after earning a PhD, usually to deepen expertise or prepare for an academic career.

PhD Examples

In conversations.

In Academic Settings:

• Person 1 : “I won’t be able to attend the seminar this afternoon, unfortunately.”
• Person 2 : “Oh? Is everything alright?”
• Person 1 : “Yes, everything’s fine. It’s just that my supervisor, Dr. Clark, has scheduled to review the last chapter of my Ph.D.  thesis then.”
• Person 2 : “That sounds important. Good luck with your thesis review!”

Casually among Friends:

• Person 1 : “Hey, have you heard the news about Lisa?”
• Person 2 : “No, what’s up?”
• Person 1 : “She finally did it! Lisa got her Ph.D.  in marine biology. She’s Dr. Lisa Bennett now!”
• Person 2 : “That’s fantastic! We definitely need to celebrate. Dr. Bennett, huh? That’s got a nice ring to it!”

In Texting and Social Posts

• Text Message: “Can’t talk now, prepping for my Ph.D.  defense ????????”
• Social Media Update:  “Thrilled to share that after 6 years, my PhD journey is complete! #Doctorate #PhDLife”

Other Examples

• Job Titles and Official Documents:  “Alex Johnson, PhD , Senior Research Scientist”
• Email Signatures:  “Best regards, \nJordan Tai, PhD \nAssistant Professor of Anthropology”

Usage of PhD in Different Contexts

When we talk about the term  PhD , it stands for “Philosophiae Doctor” or Doctor of Philosophy in English. This term carries different conventions in abbreviation and it varies by region, here’s a quick rundown:

• In  American English , we write it as “ Ph.D .” with periods.
• In  British English , “ PhD ” without periods is more common.

A PhD is awarded to individuals who have conducted original research in a specific field of study. Here are a few contexts in which we encounter the term:

It’s important to mention that despite its name, a PhD doesn’t necessarily pertain to studies in philosophy. It’s a versatile term signifying not only one’s love for knowledge but also the rigorous process they have undergone to contribute to their academic discipline. Whether in economics, psychology, or biology, a PhD is a testament to the holder’s dedication and expertise in their area of scholarship.

More about Ph.D. Terminology

Related terms to ph.d..

• Doctorate : The most closely related term to PhD. A doctorate is an umbrella term for the highest level of academic degree, and a PhD is a specific type of doctorate.
• Dissertation : A lengthy piece of written work based on original research, usually required for a PhD.

Synonyms to Ph.D.

• Doctor of Philosophy : The formal title for PhD, representing an individual who has reached the highest level of academic achievement.
• DPhil : Used by some universities, primarily in the United Kingdom, as an alternative title for PhD.

Antonyms to Ph.D.

• Bachelor’s degree : An undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities.
• Master’s degree : A graduate academic degree, one level below a doctorate.
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• noun a doctorate usually based on at least 3 years graduate study and a dissertation; the highest degree awarded graduate study synonyms: PhD see more see less type of: Doctor of Philosophy a doctorate awarded for original contributions to knowledge

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Should I write "PhD" or "Ph.D."?

Question pretty self-explanatory. Should the abbreviation of the Latin term philosophiae doctor be written as PhD (no periods) or Ph.D. (with periods)?

• abbreviations

• 1 You have a couple of correct answers below. Personally I avoid periods in abbreviations, so I would use PhD, just as I would say Washington DC using the postal code abbreviation DC rather than the historical abbreviation D.C. (District of Columbia). –  Wayne Commented May 17, 2011 at 12:38

6 Answers 6

Actually both are correct. I could easily find both on my NOAD, and there are plenty of pages on the net where you find it written as "PhD".

The OALD gives an interesting distinction, stating that Ph.D. is especially North American English.

Now, being a non-native speaker, I can only rely on official sources to state who uses what , but there's no doubt that both variants are used.

Lastly, I think there's really no point in distinguishing them as " Philosophiae Doctor " or " Doctor of Philosophy " because it's the same exact expression, although considering the abbreviation, the former is the correct and original long version, the latter is just the English translation.

• 1 Collins English Dictionary shows a separate abbreviation if you want to specify the degree in English: "DPhil". (Also at dictionary.reference.com/browse/phd , just further down the page.) –  MT_Head Commented May 17, 2011 at 9:52
• @MT_Head: Thanks for commenting. With "if you want to specify the degree in English" you mean "being unambiguous"? –  Alenanno Commented May 17, 2011 at 9:54
• Indeed. To give an anecdotal example: in the company I used to work for, which was British, people didn't tend to use periods for abbreviations of degrees, e.g. MSc , PhD . I now work for an American company, where the convention is to use them, hence Ph.D. –  Steve Melnikoff Commented May 17, 2011 at 9:55
• I see, I was thinking of that before honestly, since PhD (or PHD) can be other things too... Thanks for pointing it out! –  Alenanno Commented May 17, 2011 at 10:04
• 6 @MT_Head DPhil is also what a PhD is called at Oxford. If you use DPhil then a BE speaker would assume you specifically mean Oxford. –  mgb Commented May 17, 2011 at 15:07

PhD and Ph.D. are both correct. Canadians tend to omit the periods and those from the U.S. tend to keep them. A reference grammar explains it like this:

2  abbreviations and acronyms 1  punctuation We usually write abbreviations without full stops in modern British English. Full stops (AmE ‘periods’) are normal in American English.   Mr (AmE Mr. ) = Mister (not usually written in full)   kg (AmE kg. ) = kilogram  […]

Quote source: Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage (Third Edition). page 2.

I tend to use both 'PhD' and 'Ph.D'. A DPhil is awarded at both Oxford Uni and Sussex Uni in England. All others award PhDs to my knowledge.

It bugs me when people use 'Dr' before their name and then also state the award following it. I feel it should be one or the other.

• Agree with Dr being used with PhD part. –  Failed Scientist Commented Jul 28, 2016 at 10:19
• 4 "Oh, I'm going to get some cash out of this ATM machine." –  hBy2Py Commented Mar 31, 2017 at 17:00
• 1 @hBy2Py : Ha! That's an example of the ironically named RAS syndrome (Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome). According to Wikipedia the term was coined in 2001 in a light-hearted column in New Scientist, though I haven't a reference for the original article. On the original question, during my lifetime (started in the 1950s) in the UK there has been a slow but steady move to reduce the use of punctuation and capitalisation in print. This has been driven in part by the newspaper industry, though I can't give any source other than the say-so of journalist friends. –  Duckspindle Commented Sep 3, 2022 at 12:17

As many noted, both are accepted, so it is a matter of convention and taste.

The important is to be consistent with the other abbreviations you use throughout your text. Compare:

• I got a Ph.D. in A.I. at U.C.L.A in the U.S.
• I got a PhD in AI at UCLA in the US.

My personal preference goes for omitting periods, given that this is an abbreviation, following the Guardian style guide :

Do not use full points in abbreviations, or spaces between initials, including those in proper names

I remember discussing this with a trained secretary a long time ago. We eventually decided that the use of camel case (starting each abbreviated word in upper case) removes the need for the periods when abbreviating titles. However, when an abbreviation is relatively new or used in an unusual context, the periods help to avoid ambiguity.

For my own use, the overriding consideration is 'house style'. It is more important for a document to be internally consistent, to avoid confusion.

• Bobble's "house style" consideration typically applies not just to a single document but also, as the name implies, to all documents emanating from the same "house". For example, my academic discipline (linguistics) traditionally employs the no-periods convention for all titles (not only PhD, MA, and BA but also Mr, Dr, and Prof), while the style enforcer at my academic institution (an American university) insists that I sprinkle periods around (for a total of 9 in my 6 examples). –  H Stephen Straight Commented Feb 12, 2013 at 22:32

The most common I have seen are:

I have rarely come across a Ph.D. (with two periods).

• 28 Ugh. Ph.D looks like the inconsistent worst of all worlds. –  user1579 Commented May 17, 2011 at 16:57

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged abbreviations latin periods or ask your own question .

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Planning your PhD research: A 3-year PhD timeline example

Planning out a PhD trajectory can be overwhelming. Example PhD timelines can make the task easier and inspire. The following PhD timeline example describes the process and milestones of completing a PhD within 3 years.

Elements to include in a 3-year PhD timeline

What to include in a 3-year PhD timeline depends on the unique characteristics of a PhD project, specific university requirements, agreements with the supervisor/s and the PhD student’s career ambitions.

For instance, some PhD students write a monograph while others complete a PhD based on several journal publications. Both monographs and cumulative dissertations have advantages and disadvantages , and not all universities allow both formats. The thesis type influences the PhD timeline.

The most common elements included in a 3-year PhD timeline are the following:

The example scenario: Completing a PhD in 3 years

Many (starting) PhD students look for examples of how to plan a PhD in 3 years. Therefore, let’s look at an example scenario of a fictional PhD student. Let’s call her Maria.

In order to complete her PhD programme, Maria also needs to complete coursework and earn 15 credits, or ECTS in her case.

You may also like: Creating awesome Gantt charts for your PhD timeline

Example: planning year 1 of a 3-year PhD

Most PhD students start their first year with a rough idea, but not a well-worked out plan and timeline. Therefore, they usually begin with working on a more elaborate research proposal in the first months of their PhD. This is also the case for our example PhD student Maria.

Example: Planning year 2 of a 3-year PhD

Example: planning year 3 of a 3-year phd, example of a 3 year phd gantt chart timeline.

Combining the 3-year planning for our example PhD student Maria, it results in the following PhD timeline:

Final reflection

In fact, in real life, many PhD students spend four years full-time to complete a PhD based on four papers, instead of three. Some extend their studies even longer.

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What does PHD stand for?

Your abbreviation search returned 58 meanings

• MLA style: "PHD." Acronym Finder . 2024. AcronymFinder.com 2 Sep. 2024 https://www.acronymfinder.com/Slang/PHD.html
• Chicago style: Acronym Finder . S.v. "PHD." Retrieved September 2 2024 from https://www.acronymfinder.com/Slang/PHD.html
• APA style: PHD. (n.d.) Acronym Finder. (2024). Retrieved September 2 2024 from https://www.acronymfinder.com/Slang/PHD.html
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