Also called doctorate. the highest degree awarded by a graduate school, usually to a person who has completed at least three years of graduate study and a dissertation approved by a board of professors.
2.
a person who has been awarded this degree.
Abbreviation: Ph.D.
British Dictionary definitions for Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
noun
1.
a doctorate awarded for original research in any subject except law, medicine, or theology Abbreviation PhD, DPhil