dissertation

[dis-er-tey-shuh n] /ˌdɪs ərˈteɪ ʃən/

noun

a written essay, treatise, or thesis, especially one written by a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

any formal discourse in speech or writing.

Origin

1605-15; < Latin dissertātiōn- (stem of dissertātiō), equivalent to dissertāt(us) (past participle of dissertāre; dissert- (see dissert) + -ātus -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms

dissertational, adjective

dissertationist, noun

Can be confused

dissertation, thesis.

Examples from the web for dissertation

It is a prerequisite that the dissertation has been approved before appointment is granted.
The mother went into a long dissertation, answering the little girl's why.
She successfully defended her doctoral dissertation recently.
If his theory is good, he can do it as a dissertation.
Ludologists defend their dissertations under intense scrutiny.
Her dissertation focused on how to retain students in community colleges.
He even wrote his doctoral dissertation at Harvard on the subject.
The degree is awarded on the basis of examination and assessment of the dissertation.
That's not a comment, that's a dissertation.
For his dissertation research, he built a transmissometer, a device that measures water quality.

British Dictionary definitions for dissertation

dissertation

/ˌdɪsəˈteɪʃən/

noun

a written thesis, often based on original research, usually required for a higher degree

a formal discourse

Derived Forms

dissertational, adjective
dissertationist, noun

Word Origin and History for dissertation

1610s, "discussion, debate," from Latin dissertationem (nominative dissertatio) "discourse," noun of action from past participle stem of dissertare "debate, argue, examine, harangue," frequentative of disserere "discuss, examine," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + serere "to arrange words" (see series). Sense of "formal, written treatise" is 1650s.