Ph.D.

Noun

Ph.D. (plural Ph.D's or Ph.D.'s or Ph.D.s)

1. Doctor of Philosophy, a terminal research degree, the highest of academic degrees conferred by a college or university.
   • Ph.D’s will go to Kirk G. Rasmussen and Val Hicks.1971 May 27, “24 Local Students Among ‘U’ Graduates”, in The Daily Herald, 98th year, number 214, Provo, Utah, page 6
   • The shortage of holders of Ph.D’s in business school subjects has grown so severe in recent years that a panel was set up in 1980 by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business to study the problem.[…]However, it has already led to modification of accrediting standards such as the...1982 August 20, “Business schools take action to alleviate teacher shortages”, in Southern Illinoisan, volume 90, number 195, Carbondale, Ill., page A-4
2. (informal) A person who holds a Ph.D. degree.
   • There are 12 Ph.D’s in the Concordia faculty of 62, according to Dr. P. A. Zimmerman, President, with others nearing the completion of doctorate requirements.1961 February 26, “Doctorates Are Received by Six”, in Sunday Journal and Star, 94th year, number 9, Lincoln, Neb., page 3B
   • The uncertainty of the job market has a new meaning for Ph.D’s these days: Prospects Highly Depressing.1971 January 14, “Ph.D’s Finding Job Prospects Depressing”, in The Pensacola News, Pensacola, Fla.

   Synonyms:

   D.Phil.