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 diploma is made up of 120 hours of classwork with modules spread over four months.

From BBC

Those with a college diploma roll the dice more than their peers who lack a degree.

From MarketWatch

“We were desperate, and because the people had diplomas on their wall, we listened to them when we should have been listening to our son.”

From Los Angeles Times

She decided she needed a diploma from a university in the U.S. or Europe to get hired at an American company.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yineska’s oldest was excited about getting an American high school diploma.

From Salon

Related Words

• credentials
• degree
• recognition
• voucher
• warrant