diploma
Americannoun
plural
diplomas,plural
diplomata-
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.
-
a document conferring some honor, privilege, or power.
-
a public or official document, especially one of historical interest.
a diploma from Carolingian times.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a document conferring a qualification, recording success in examinations or successful completion of a course of study
-
an official document that confers an honour or privilege
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; see diplo-) + -ma suffix of result
Explanation
A diploma is a document people receive when they graduate from a school or program. It is a symbol of academic success. You often see framed diplomas displayed in a doctor's office. Are you working toward a diploma? Then you must be in school. People receive high school and college diplomas, which they usually receive during a graduation ceremony. You could also get a diploma for a shorter series of classes in something like pottery, skydiving, or marksmanship. Even a dog could get a diploma for passing obedience school. Any time someone gets a diploma, you can be sure they finished a course or program of learning.
Vocabulary lists containing diploma
A Graduation Lexicon
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Education and Academics, List 1
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for June 3–June 9, 2023
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The top eight receive a diploma for their achievements.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026
Sons followed fathers into factories, and a high school diploma was enough to open doors.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 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
Although the education requirement to be hired as an EA at most companies is a high-school diploma, these roles are often regarded as the backbone of an organization.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026
“Sonny, you have to have a diploma from a college to be an engineer. I don’t have one. That means I can never be an engineer.”
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
