Doctor of Philosophy n (Education) a doctorate awarded for original research in any subject except law, medicine, or theology. Abbreviation: PhD or DPhil Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014Doc?tor of Philos?ophy n. 1. a doctor’s degree awarded for advanced studies in the humanities or the social, behavioral, or pure sciences. 2. a person who has been awarded this degree. Abbr.: Ph.D. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.