The word "doctoral" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈdɑktərəl/. The first syllable is pronounced with the "ah" sound as in "father", followed by the second syllable with the "k" sound as in "kite". The third syllable is pronounced with the "t" and "ər" sounds, as in "butter" and "hurry". The final syllable has the "əl" sound, as in "able". This word is commonly used to describe a degree or program of study that leads to a doctorate degree.
Doctoral is an adjective that pertains to the highest level of academic achievement or the degree conferred upon someone who has completed an advanced and specialized course of study. It refers to the pursuit or attainment of a doctorate, which is typically a research-based degree granted by a university or an academic institution upon the successful completion of a doctoral program.
The term doctoral also describes the level of education or academic qualifications inherent in this particular degree. It signifies the advanced level of knowledge, expertise, and skills obtained within a specific field or discipline of study. Doctoral programs require the completion of a dissertation, which is an extensive and original research project, contributing to the existing body of knowledge in the respective field.
Additionally, doctoral can be used to describe individuals who have successfully acquired a doctorate. Thus, a person who holds a doctoral degree is commonly referred to as a doctoral candidate or a doctor. This title recognizes the individual as an expert within their chosen field and acknowledges their ability to contribute meaningfully to academic research, scholarship, teaching, or professional practice.
Overall, the term doctoral encompasses the highest level of academic accomplishment and signifies profound expertise, as well as significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge within a particular area of study.
Pert. to a doctor.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The term "doctoral" comes from the Latin word "doctoralis", which is derived from the verb "docere", meaning "to teach". In Latin, "doctoralis" referred to anything relating to a teacher or a doctor. It eventually evolved to specifically pertain to higher academic degrees, such as the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Medicine (M.D.).