parchment

noun

parch·​ment ˈpärch-mənt 

1

: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on

2

: strong, tough, and often somewhat translucent paper made to resemble parchment

3

: a parchment manuscript

also : an academic diploma

Examples of parchment in a Sentence

Ancient people wrote on parchment.

a parchment dating back to ancient times

Line the pan with a sheet of parchment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Transfer on parchment to a baking sheet. —Andy Baraghani, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 May 2026

The original parchment was rolled up and stored in the office of the secretary of the Continental Congress, but was then moved around a fair amount during the war—bouncing around towns and cities in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey before ending up, in 1785, in New York. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

Cover with more parchment; top with a second baking sheet (to help the pieces hold their shape). —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 3 May 2026

Preheat oven to 375°F with racks in upper third and lower third positions; line an 18- x 13-inch rimmed baking sheet using parchment paper, or place an ovenproof wire rack on top of baking sheet. —Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English parchemin, from Anglo-French, modification of Latin pergamena, from Greek pergamēnē, from feminine of Pergamēnos of Pergamum, from Pergamon Pergamum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

parchment

noun

parch·​ment ˈpärch-mənt 

1

: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared as a writing material

2

: a paper like parchment

3

: something written on parchment