parchment

noun

parch·​ment ˈpärch-mənt How to pronounce parchment (audio)
Synonyms of parchmentnext
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
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.
Lightly grease a 9-inch cake pan with vegetable oil and line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 Pass potatoes through food mill into a medium bowl, then pass through tamis onto a sheet of parchment paper, pressing with a heatproof rubber spatula. — Alexia Duchêne, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026 The Uthman Quran, a seventh-century manuscript written in Kufic lettering on gazelle parchment, sits beneath a 213-foot dome in a space designed for maximum impact. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026 Away from both sides of the road stretched rocky plains, dry and gray as parchment. — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parchment

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of parchment was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Parcheesi
parchment
parchment coffee
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Parchment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parchment. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

parchment

noun
parch·​ment ˈpärch-mənt How to pronounce parchment (audio)
1
: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared as a writing material
2
: a paper like parchment
3
: something written on parchment

More from Merriam-Webster on parchment

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for parchment

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parchment

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