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

Carefully remove parchment paper and pie weights and return pie crust to oven. —Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 21 June 2025

To press flowers, place bulbs between two pieces of parchment paper and keep pressed in the pages of a heavy book for two to three weeks or until flat. —Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2025

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (205 degrees Celsius) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. —Karla Walsh, CNN Money, 9 June 2025

In another bathroom, the firm designed a bulbous vanity covered in parchment leather with a waterproof high-gloss finish. —Tim McKeough, New York Times, 1 May 2025

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