diploma

noun

di·​plo·​ma də-ˈplō-mə How to pronounce diploma (audio)
plural diplomas
Synonyms of diplomanext
1
plural also diplomata də-ˈplō-mə-tə How to pronounce diploma (audio) : 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school diploma or equivalent. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026 But O’Neal, who is also currently touring college campuses to teach personal finance, sees college as more than a path to a diploma. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 Those included English Language Learners and International Support Preparatory Academy, a specialized high school for older immigrant students without a diploma. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 17 Oct. 2026 Chef Jenny trained through a diploma in Bengaluru, an internship at Restaurant Salicorne in Normandy, and a bootcamp under pastry chef Will Goldfarb in Bali, before shaping it all around memories of growing up in Minnie Bay on the Andaman Islands. — Karina Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for diploma

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of diploma was in 1622

Phrases Containing diploma

Rhymes for diploma

See All Rhymes for diploma

Browse Nearby Words

diploidy
diploma
diplomacy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diploma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diploma. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

diploma

noun
di·​plo·​ma də-ˈplō-mə How to pronounce diploma (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on diploma

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for diploma

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about diploma

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All