Which entry could correctly be used to translate 'doctoral thesis' into German in a dictionary?

• A. Diplomarbeit
• B. Dissertation, Doktorarbeit
• C. Hausarbeit
• D. Masterarbeit

Answer: (B)

In German, the work you complete to earn a doctoral degree is referred to by two common terms: Dissertation and Doktorarbeit. A dictionary entry that lists both captures the usual ways this idea is expressed in German-language sources, since different regions and contexts favor one term or the other. Dissertation is the formal, often Latin-derived term used in academic writing, while Doktorarbeit is the direct German equivalent people use in everyday speech. So including both in the translation is the most accurate and flexible choice for a dictionary.

Diplomarbeit is tied to the Diplom degree, not the doctorate; Hausarbeit is a course or module paper, and Masterarbeit is a master’s thesis. These are at the wrong level, so they don’t fit for “doctoral thesis.”