dissertation

UK: /ˌdɪsə^rˈteɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌdɪsɚˈteɪʃən/ ,(dis′ər tā′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•ser•ta•tion /ˌdɪsɚˈteɪʃən/   n. [countable]

1. Education a thesis, esp. one written by a candidate for a doctoral degree:
   wrote a dissertation on economic policy.
2. any formal speech or writing:
   a dissertation on natural childbirth.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•ser•ta•tion  (dis′ər tā′shən), n. 

1. Education a written essay, treatise, or thesis, esp. one written by a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
2. any formal discourse in speech or writing.

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

dis′ser•ta′tion•al, adj. 
dis′ser•ta′tion•ist, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dissertation / ˌdɪsəˈteɪʃən/ noun

1. a written thesis, often based on original research, usually required for a higher degree
2. a formal discourse

ˌdisserˈtational adjective