noun

diplomatics

dip-luh-MAT-iks

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Diplomatics (noun) means the academic discipline that establishes whether an old official document is genuine, works out when it was produced, and interprets its contents. Example: “She studied diplomatics to learn how to tell a genuine medieval charter from a forgery.”

noun

academic The academic discipline that establishes whether an old official document is genuine, works out when it was produced, and interprets its contents.

"She studied diplomatics to learn how to tell a genuine medieval charter from a forgery."

"Diplomatics helped the archivist work out when the letter had actually been written."

"The course in diplomatics covered both dating techniques and the detection of forged documents."

How to use diplomatics

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe academic skill of checking whether an old official document is genuine and working out when it was made.

When to use it

A specialist academic term found mainly in history and archival studies.

Memory tip

Although it ends in -s, diplomatics is treated as a single field of study, so it takes a singular verb.

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Easily confused with

diplomacy →

Common pairings

study diplomatics the field of diplomatics diplomatics and palaeography medieval diplomatics

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Can you complete this real example?

She studied _____ to learn how to tell a genuine medieval charter from a forgery.

Etymology

Likely adapted from the Italian or Church Latin word diplomatica, referring to the study of official documents.

Origin: Italian or Ecclesiastical Latin

Synonyms

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diplomatic

Related words

diplomatic

Rhymes for diplomatics

dramatics acrobatics mathematics

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Frequently asked questions

What is diplomatics?

Diplomatics is the scholarly discipline concerned with authenticating, dating and interpreting old official documents.

Is diplomatics the same as palaeography?

They're related but distinct: palaeography looks broadly at old handwriting styles, whereas diplomatics zeroes in on whether a document is genuine and when it was drawn up.

Who uses diplomatics?

Historians, archivists and legal scholars use diplomatics when they need to verify or date historical official documents.

What is the meaning of diplomatics?

"diplomatics" (noun) means the academic discipline that establishes whether an old official document is genuine, works out when it was produced, and interprets its contents.

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