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

The text is written on parchment made from sheep, fleeced, their hides soaked in lime, stretched and dried. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

Let cool, then stack between sheets of parchment paper and place in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and freeze. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026

Using the parchment overhang, transfer the baked slab to a cutting board. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Heat the oven to 425 degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 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