par

¹

[pahr]

noun

1. Finance.

   1. the legally established value of the monetary unit of one country in terms of that of another using the same metal as a standard of value.

   2. the state of the shares of any business, undertaking, loan, etc., when they may be purchased at the original price issue par or at their face value nominal par.

2. an equality in value or standing; a level of equality.

   The gains and the losses are on a par.

3. an average, usual, or normal amount, degree, quality, condition, standard, or the like.

   above par;

   to feel below par.

4. Golf.,  the number of strokes set as a standard for a specific hole or a complete course.

adjective

1. average or normal.

2. Finance.,  at or pertaining to par.

   the par value of a bond.

verb (used with object)

parred, parring 

1. Golf.,  to equal par on (a hole or course).

par

²

[pahr]

adjective

Insurance.

1. of or relating to participating insurance.

par-

³

1. variant of para- before a vowel.

   parenchyma.

par.

⁴

abbreviation

1. paragraph.

2. parallel.

3. parenthesis.

4. parish.

par

¹

/ pɑː /

noun

1. an accepted level or standard, such as an average (esp in the phrase up to par )

2. a state of equality (esp in the phrase on a par with )

3. finance the established value of the unit of one national currency in terms of the unit of another where both are based on the same metal standard

4. commerce

   1. See par value

   2. the condition of equality between the current market value of a share, bond, etc, and its face value (the nominal par ). This equality is indicated by at par, while above ( or below ) par indicates that the market value is above (or below) face value

5. golf an estimated standard score for a hole or course that a good player should make

   par for the course was 72

6. not feeling or performing as well as normal

7. an expected or normal occurrence or situation

adjective

1. average or normal

2. (usually prenominal) commerce of or relating to par

   par value

par.

²

abbreviation

1. paragraph

2. parenthesis

3. parish

Par.

³

abbreviation

1. Paraguay

par-

⁴

prefix

1. a variant of para- 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of par¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin pār “matching, equal”

Origin of par²

Shortening of participating

Word History and Origins

Origin of par¹

C17: from Latin pār equal, on a level; see _peer ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at par, (of a share) purchasable at issue par or nominal par.

2. par for the course, exactly what one might expect; predictable; typical.

   They were late again, but that's par for the course.

More idioms and phrases containing par

• below par
• on a par with
• up to par

Example Sentences

Volatility matters too—because of the format, a player who birdies half the holes and bogeys the other half can be more valuable than someone who cards 18 pars.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The unusually lengthy run will put recent art on par with LACMA’s historical departments, when the new Geffen Galleries building opens in April.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ultimately, their goal is to create a show on par with the slickness and the acclaim of their main influence, “The Willows,” from JFI Productions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The tea plants in lunar soil flourished, performing on par with those in Devonian soil, while the Mars saplings failed to grow.

Read more on Salon

At times, this role has put Miller’s authority on par with that of the Secretary of State and national security adviser Marco Rubio.

Read more on Salon