diploma

noun

di·​plo·​ma də-ˈplō-mə 

plural diplomas

1

plural also diplomata də-ˈplō-mə-tə  : an official or state document : charter

2

: a writing usually under seal conferring some honor or privilege

3

: a document bearing record of graduation from or of a degree conferred by an educational institution

Examples of diploma in a Sentence

He earned his high school diploma by attending classes at night.

Recent Examples on the Web

How does the credit-earning system work A few private religious colleges and universities have also accepted the Indiana College Core diploma, such as Marian University, Grace College, and Anderson University. —Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025

With an undergraduate diploma from Middlebury and a law degree from the University of Virginia, Lorch worked on international deals in Europe and was of counsel at the white-shoe Manhattan law firm Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan. —Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025

Winners also receive an 18-carat gold medal and a diploma. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025

Most students are also working toward a diploma that includes all of the A-G requirements to get into any public university in California. —Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, passport, diploma, from Greek diplōma folded paper, passport, from diploun to double, from diploos

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing diploma

• diploma mill

Rhymes for diploma

• aroma
• fibroma
• glaucoma
• glioma
• lipoma
• lymphoma
• myoma
• myxoma
• neuroma
• paloma
• schwannoma
• scotoma

Kids Definition

diploma

noun

di·​plo·​ma də-ˈplō-mə 

: a document granting a special right, honor, or power

especially : a document that shows a person has finished a course or graduated from a school