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

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. —Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 7 June 2026

Line two 15x10-inch baking pans with parchment paper. —Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2026

Directions Preheat oven to 350 F, and line a 9-by-9-inch pan with parchment paper. —ABC News, 3 June 2026

Cover with another sheet of parchment and place a third baking sheet on top to weigh all layers down (this will allow pastry to puff up slightly yet not rise dramatically). —Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 June 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