parchment

noun

parch·​ment ˈpärch-mənt 

1

: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on

2

: strong, tough, and often somewhat translucent paper made to resemble parchment

3

: a parchment manuscript

also : an academic diploma

Examples of parchment in a Sentence

Ancient people wrote on parchment.

a parchment dating back to ancient times

Line the pan with a sheet of parchment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Remove from pans and discard parchment; let Cake Layers cool completely on wire racks, about 45 minutes. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026

Ingredients Directions Spread half of the vanilla wafer crumbs in the bottom of a 10x6-inch baking pan that's been lined with parchment paper. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026

Baking halibut with lemon, thyme, and fennel in a parchment parcel yields effortlessly perfect texture and flavor. —Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 24 Apr. 2026

Along with a towel or a sheet of parchment paper, your iron is a great way to soften your vinyl flooring and set it back into place. —Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English parchemin, from Anglo-French, modification of Latin pergamena, from Greek pergamēnē, from feminine of Pergamēnos of Pergamum, from Pergamon Pergamum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

parchment

noun

parch·​ment ˈpärch-mənt 

1

: the skin of a sheep or goat prepared as a writing material

2

: a paper like parchment

3

: something written on parchment