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

To qualify for loans, undergraduate programs must show that their graduates’ median earnings exceed those of working adults aged 24-35 in the state with a high school diploma. —Michael Collins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

The study also looked at the share of residents with health insurance and a high school diploma in addition to other factors. —Kate Linderman, Idaho Statesman, 12 Aug. 2025

The data showed a nearly $40,000 annual earnings gap between individuals with an advanced degree and those with only a high school diploma. —Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025

Graduates today face challenges that demand more than a diploma. —Jane Swift, Fortune, 31 July 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