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

The rise in the unemployment rate reflected more people who permanently lost their jobs, and joblessness was up notably among Hispanic people and those without a high school diploma. —Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025

The goal is to enable those in the program to have an Illinois Seal of Biliteracy on their high school diploma. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025

The Community College of Denver (CCD) launched its new tuition-free high school diploma program for adults. —Denver7, The Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2025

This shift is particularly noticeable in high-growth fields such as technology, healthcare and renewable energy, where specialized knowledge often outweighs a diploma. —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 23 Feb. 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