Synonyms

below par

Idioms

Also, under par. Not up to the average, normal, or desired standard. For example, I am feeling below par today, but I'm sure I'll recover by tomorrow. This term employs par in the sense of “an average amount or quality,” a usage dating from the late 1700s.

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.

See Examples For:

below par

With the preferred trading so far below par, it appears unlikely that the company will issue additional Stretch shares unless the price rebounds.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

Anything below par and Morocco, with their speed and creativity, will give them a rough night.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

That figure is substantially below par for any team with serious title aspirations.

From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2026

They are so rarely below par but, on this occasion, a poor start cost them.

From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2026

Even Holly’s beacon was a few shades below par, and that had a micro nuclear battery sending out the pulses.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

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