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

After leaving high school without a diploma, Niño returned to the classroom through ECC’s GED preparation program, according to a news release. —Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026

The poll found 36% of people with a high school diploma or less were sour on the economy’s prospects, rising to 52% among people with some college education and 62% for people with a college degree. —Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026

And, whether because of alumni networks or simply the signal from the diploma, elite-university graduates are wildly overrepresented in entry-level roles at top employers. —Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2026

Statewide, 61,935 students received their diplomas in four years in 2025. —Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026

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