diploma

American  

[dih-ploh-muh] / dɪˈploʊ mə /

noun

plural

diplomas,

plural

diplomata

1. a document given by an educational institution conferring a degree on a person or certifying that the person has satisfactorily completed a course of study.

2. a document conferring some honor, privilege, or power.

3. a public or official document, especially one of historical interest.

   a diploma from Carolingian times.

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verb (used with object)

diplomaed, diplomaing

1. to grant or award a diploma to.

diploma British  

/ dɪˈpləʊmə /

noun

1. a document conferring a qualification, recording success in examinations or successful completion of a course of study

2. an official document that confers an honour or privilege

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Other Word Forms

• prediploma noun
• undiplomaed adjective

Etymology

Origin of diploma

1635–45; < Latin diplōma a letter of recommendation, an official document < Greek díplōma a letter folded double, equivalent to diplō-, variant stem of diploûn to double (derivative of diplóos; diplo- ) + -ma suffix of result

Example Sentences

The top eight receive a diploma for their achievements.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

Toruño dropped out of high school amid personal instability and lack of resources, later earned her diploma and pursued a paralegal certification, motivated by her own experiences navigating the U.S. immigration system.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

The exhibition’s opening gallery, graced by the artists’ portraits and their diploma paintings for the Royal Academy, sets the stage for the brilliant dialogue that stretched throughout their careers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

There were no restrictions on what laureates did with the medal, diploma and money they received as part of the prize, it added.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

As they watched him stride across the stage and take his diploma, he was grinning from ear to ear.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• credentials
• degree
• recognition
• voucher
• warrant