di·plo·ma / diˈplōmə/ • n. a certificate awarded by an educational establishment to show that someone has successfully completed a course of study. ∎  an official document or charter.ORIGIN: mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘state paper’): via Latin from Greek diplōma ‘folded paper,’ from diploun ‘to fold,’ from diplous ‘double.’

diploma official document of state or church; document conferring an honour, privilege, or license. XVII. — L. diplōma — Gr. díplōma folded paper, letter of recommendation or conveying a license or privilege, f. diploûn double, fold, f. diploûs double.