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paragon

American  
[par-uh-gon, -guhn] / ˈpær əˌgɒn, -gən /

noun

  1. a model or pattern of excellence or of a particular excellence.

    a paragon of virtue.
    Synonyms:
    paradigm, exemplar, example, quintessence, epitome, standard, ideal

  2. someone of exceptional merit.

    Just who is this paragon whose name is on everyone's lips?
    Synonyms:
    nonpareil, nonesuch

  3. Printing. a 20-point type.

  4. an unusually large, round pearl.

verb (used with object)

  1. Rare. to compare; parallel.

  2. Archaic. to be a match for; rival.

  3. Obsolete. to surpass.

  4. Obsolete. to regard as a paragon.

paragon British  
/ ˈpærəɡən /

noun

  1. a model of excellence; pattern

    a paragon of virtue

  2. a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 20 point

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. archaic

    1. to equal or surpass

    2. to compare

    3. to regard as a paragon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • paragonless adjective

Etymology

Origin of paragon

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French paragon, parangon “model,” from Old Italian paragone “touchstone,” from paragonare “to compare, test on a touchstone,” from Greek parakonân “to sharpen, whet,” equivalent to para- “beside, alongside” + akonân “to sharpen, whet,” a derivative of akónē “whetstone, bone”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

According to his 1409 biography, Boucicaut was a paragon of knighthood and an athlete who followed a punishing physical training regime, capable of vaulting fully armed onto his horse’s back.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

It’s worth noting that Weiss herself does not appear to be a paragon of newsroom professionalism.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2025

When he eventually signed on for a superhero film, it was, fittingly, alongside Captain America, that upright paragon of virtue — and Redford played the villain.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2025

"He's not a paragon of technical prowess, nor does he stand out for his vision, his long ball touch, or his ability to link up," said Real Sociedad expert Ramajo.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2025

If Harry Gordon was such a paragon of looks and enterprise, why had he selected her?

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.