diploma

[dih-ploh-muh]

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.

verb (used with object)

diplomaed, diplomaing 

1. to grant or award a diploma to.

diploma

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• prediploma noun
• undiplomaed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diploma¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of diploma¹

C17: from Latin: official letter or document, literally: letter folded double, from Greek; see _diplo-

Example Sentences

By 1926, the school was on the verge of being able to offer diplomas in the liberal arts.

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"That was three years ago and now I'm doing a grade eight guitar, which is the highest you can go up to without a diploma."

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Nonetheless, research has indicated that having a diploma is better than not having one, regardless of the skills the diploma embodies.

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Apart from the corruption case, prosecutors have accused him of a raft of other offences including espionage and forging his university diploma, a qualification that has since been annulled.

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He tells me he plays a lot of sport, is learning French and English - a well-thumbed Russian-English dictionary stays by his side throughout our interview - and is racking up high-school diplomas.

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Related Words

• credentials www.thesaurus.com
• degree 
• recognition 
• voucher 
• warrant