noun
dissertation
dih-suh-TAY-shuhn
noun
1
A long, formal piece of writing on a specific subject, usually required to complete an advanced degree.
"She spent three years researching her doctoral dissertation."
"His dissertation examined climate policy in coastal cities."
How to Use Dissertation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA long research paper written to earn an academic degree.
UK vs US
In the US, "dissertation" typically refers to a doctoral (PhD) paper, while "thesis" is used for master's degrees; in the UK the terms are often used more interchangeably.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
write a dissertation
doctoral dissertation
defend a dissertation
Word Forms
dissertations plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “dissertation”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She spent three years researching her doctoral _____.
Etymology
From Latin dissertatio, from dissertare, "to discuss, debate."