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

In fact, 81% of top executives say their companies are doubling down on skills-first hiring, trading diploma demands for proof of real, job-ready abilities. —Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025

And the poll showed that for many graduates, student debt lingers long after their diploma is in their hands. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025

As a senior, Branch’s course load is substantial as an IB diploma candidate. —Cyril A. Reinicke, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2025

The analysis found that a typical college graduate earns about $80,000 a year, compared with $47,000 for a worker with a high school diploma. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 25 Apr. 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