nonpareil

American  

[non-puh-rel] / ˌnɒn pəˈrɛl /

adjective

1. having no equal; peerless.

   Synonyms:

   unparalleled

   Antonyms:

   ordinary

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noun

1. a person or thing having no equal.

   Synonyms:

   nonesuch

2. a small pellet of colored sugar for decorating candy, cake, and cookies.

3. a flat, round, bite-sized piece of chocolate covered with this sugar.

4. painted bunting.

5. Printing.

   1. a 6-point type.

   2. a slug occupying 6 points of space between lines.

nonpareil British  

/ ˌnɒnpəˈreɪl, ˈnɒnpərəl /

noun

1. a person or thing that is unsurpassed or unmatched; peerless example

2. (formerly) a size of printers' type equal to 6 point

3. a small bead of coloured sugar used to decorate cakes, biscuits, etc

4. a flat round piece of chocolate covered with this sugar

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adjective

1. having no match or equal; peerless

Etymology

Origin of nonpareil

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English nonparail(le), from Middle French nonpareil, “unrivalled, peerless,” equivalent to non- non- + pareil “equal,” from Vulgar Latin pariculus, Late Latin pāriculus, a diminutive adjective and noun formed from Latin pār (inflectional stem pāri- “equal, an equal”) + -culus diminutive suffix; see -cle ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Use nonpareil to describe someone or something that is beyond compare, an absolute model of perfection of a particular thing. Jane Austen was a writer nonpareil, and James Bond a spy nonpareil. Coming from the medieval French words non, meaning "not," and pareil, meaning "equal," so quite literally it means "not equal" or "unequaled." Like a lot of fancy French terms adopted by the English language (e.g., "bons mots," "eminence gris"), the use of nonpareil is generally restricted to written form. Use with caution.

Example Sentences

But back in 2015, with things just getting going, Kevin White of the Daily Nonpareil in Council Bluffs reported from the field after a closing playoff loss, including some input from a quarterback still 14.

From Washington Post • Dec. 30, 2022

The company’s intellectual core, and the source of its growing reputation in the wider publishing world, became its line of Nonpareil paperbacks.

From New York Times • Mar. 17, 2022

Kendra’s composition was chosen from more than 200 entries, Weissner told the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil.

From Washington Times • Mar. 6, 2021

Brummer-Clark joined the Nonpareil in 2000 after graduating from the University of Iowa.

From Washington Times • Mar. 14, 2017

I am called the Nonpareil because there is no other bird equal to me.

From Birds, Illustrated by Color Photography, Vol. 1, No. 1 January, 1897 by Various