diploma

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noun di·plo·ma \ də-ˈplō-mə \

Definition of diploma

plural diplomas

1 plural also diplomata play \-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

See diploma defined for English-language learners

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Examples of diploma in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of diploma from the Web

First-time fathers with college degrees are now around 33 years old on average, as compared to 29 for those with only high-school diplomas.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "First-time Dads Are Older Than Ever Before," 30 Aug. 2017
As a result, many earn diplomas before their eligibility expires.

— joan niesen, SI.com, "How the Graduate Transfer Rule Brought College Football Into Its Own Kind of Free Agency," 17 Aug. 2017
McDonald's new concept offers some perks for employees, though, including English-as-second-language classes, access to free online high school diplomas, tuition assistance and advisers who can help craft education plans.

— james briggs, Indianapolis Star, "Briggs: This Indianapolis McDonald's reveals how the burger chain plans to save itself," 14 July 2017
Those with only high school diplomas, once the rank and file of Milwaukee's workforce, fell 31% in the same period.

— john schmid, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Foxconn forces Wisconsin to confront acute shortage of automation-age tech workers," 8 July 2017
For years, lawmakers have debatedwhich exams, if any, students should have to pass to earn a diploma.

— neal morton, The Seattle Times, "Students offered relief from high-stakes graduation tests, as Washington lawmakers reach deal," 1 July 2017
More than one in three residents lack a high school diploma and the violent crime rate is nearly five times the county average.

— fred clasen-kelly, charlotteobserver, "‘We can’t be bought.’ Can this Charlotte neighborhood stop investors from moving in?," 30 June 2017
Members of the Class of 2013, who completed college in four years, recently collected diplomas from schools near and far, including West Chester, Kutztown, Penn, Pomona College in California, and Bates College in Maine.

— martha woodall, Philly.com, "David Hardy retires from Boys' Latin with his vision going strong," 24 June 2017
Some said they were pushed to pursue a high school equivalency degree instead of a traditional diploma.

— emily lane, NOLA.com, "14-year-old boy wounded in Pines Village shooting on Friday: NOPD," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diploma.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of diploma

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1622

See Words from the same year

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

DIPLOMA Defined for English Language Learners

diploma

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noun

Definition of diploma for English Language Learners

: a document which shows that a person has finished a course of study or has graduated from a school

DIPLOMA Defined for Kids

diploma

play

noun di·plo·ma \ də-ˈplō-mə \

Definition of diploma for Students

:a certificate that shows a person has finished a course of study or graduated from a school

Learn More about diploma

See words that rhyme with diploma Spanish Central: Translation of diploma Nglish: Translation of diploma for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of diploma for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about diploma

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diploma

Definition of diploma

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Recent Examples of diploma from the Web

Origin and Etymology of diploma

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DIPLOMA Defined for English Language Learners

diploma

Definition of diploma for English Language Learners

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diploma

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DIPLOMA Defined for English Language Learners

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