# parchment

/ˈpɑɹtʃmənt/ (US) · /pˈɑːtʃmənt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/parchment
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a thick, strong paper made from animal skin that people used for writing in the past. Today, you might see it in old books or use a modern version for baking.

For teachers: a writing material made from the processed skins of animals, primarily sheep, goats, or calves. In modern culinary contexts, refers to a grease-resistant paper used in baking.

## Examples

- The old map was drawn on thick parchment.
- The museum displayed a medieval parchment that had survived for over seven hundred years in a dry stone vault.
- While papyrus was common in the ancient Mediterranean, parchment became the preferred medium for European scribes due to its durability and the ability to scrape away errors.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the material in general; countable when referring to a specific historical document.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.