Diploma
/dɪˈploʊ.mə/noun
An official document certifying a qualification, award, or right.
Did you know?It ultimately comes from Greek diplōma, “a folded paper,” from diploun, “to fold double,” and was used for official grants and licenses long before it meant a graduation certificate.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dwo-
“two”
Ancient Greek
Greek
δίπλοος (diplóos)
“double, folded in two”
Ancient Greek
Greek
δίπλωμα (díplōma)
“a folded paper, official document”
Late Latin
Latin
diploma
“an official charter or license”
17th–18th Century
French/English
diploma
“an official certificate or grant of authority”
Modern English
English
diploma
“a certificate awarded by a school or institution”
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