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

It's still packed with original furnishings, college diplomas, recipe books and awards for the brand's then-nascent rum at the turn of the century—the previous century. —Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

This has left about 58% of recent graduates stranded, still looking for their first job in the first year after getting their diploma, according to a report from Kickresume. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025

About 48 percent of these 22,000 to 34,000 individuals will require a second technical diploma, the association said. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025

Kapil holds a dual bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronics, and Communication Engineering and a master’s diploma in journalism from the Institute of Journalism and New Media in Bangalore. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 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