First degree murder is the unlawful, premeditated, and deliberated killing of an individual. Additionally, first degree murder may also include acts of murder committed by poisoning, lying in wait, or strangulation. The exact definition of first degree murder varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Several jurisdictions classify murder by degrees, out of which the most common are first and second degree murder. While most murders are classified as second degree murder, some aggravated forms of murder are classified under first degree. In the United States, most states follow a "felony murder rule," under which any form of murder is classified as first degree when done in conjunction with certain violent felonies like burglary, rape, kidnapping, arson, and others.