par

[ pahr ]

/ pɑr /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR par ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an equality in value or standing; a level of equality: The gains and the losses are on a par.

an average, usual, or normal amount, degree, quality, condition, standard, or the like: above par; to feel below par.

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

Finance.

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.
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).

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

adjective

average or normal.

Finance. at or pertaining to par: the par value of a bond.

verb (used with object), parred, par·ring.

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

Nearby words

Idioms

par for the course, exactly what one might expect; typical: They were late again, but that's par for the course.

Origin of par

First recorded in 1615–25, par is from the Latin word pār equal

Definition for par (2 of 4)

par

[ pahr ]

/ pɑr /

adjective Insurance.

of or relating to participating insurance.

Origin of par

shortening of participating

Definition for par (3 of 4)

par.

Definition for par (4 of 4)

par-

variant of para-¹ before a vowel: parenchyma.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for par

There are only 175 countries on that list, which puts Russia on a par with Lebanon and Nigeria.
Recession? Devaluation? Inflation? Putin Tells Russia Stay the Course.|Anna Nemtsova|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The city is incredibly violent for its size, on par with metropolises that dwarf the town.
The Disappearing Cops of East St. Louis|Justin Glawe|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A life-sized poster of Par Gyi greeted guests at the entrance.
Hope and Change? Burma Kills a Journalist Before Obama Arrives|Joshua Carroll|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These things are absolutely deplorable, but they were par for the course for some of the more dedicated “Gamers” in the community.
Death of ‘Gamer’ Identity: How Hardcore Trolls Pwned Themselves|Alec Kubas-Meyer|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The idea of a soap being advertised as gluten-free struck me as ludicrous—roughly on par with a shampoo proclaiming to be low fat.
Celiac or Not, Gluten Free Dish Soap Is Ridiculous|Russell Saunders|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Histoire des triumvirats augmentée de l'histoire d'Auguste, par Larry.
A Manual of Ancient History|A. H. L. (Arnold Hermann Ludwig) Heeren
Its shape is exactly the same as a lead probe figured by Par for the insertion of the apolinose.
Surgical Instruments in Greek and Roman Times|John Stewart Milne
Should redemption take place at par, and at once, the credit of the United States could not fail to be strengthened.
The New Nation|Frederic L. Paxson
The squad being in line is dismissed by the commands and methods prescribed in par.
Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army|War Department.
The ventures were profitable generally, and the stock was maintained at its par value.
The Rise of Cotton Mills in the South|Broadus Mitchell

British Dictionary definitions for par (1 of 4)

par

/ (pɑː) /

noun

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

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

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

commerce

See par value
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

golf an estimated standard score for a hole or course that a good player should makepar for the course was 72

below par or under par not feeling or performing as well as normal

par for the course an expected or normal occurrence or situation

adjective

average or normal

(usually prenominal) commerce of or relating to parpar value

Word Origin for par

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

British Dictionary definitions for par (2 of 4)

par-

prefix

a variant of para- 1

British Dictionary definitions for par (3 of 4)

par.

abbreviation for

paragraph

parenthesis

parish

British Dictionary definitions for par (4 of 4)

Par.

abbreviation for

Paraguay

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

Word Origin and History for par (1 of 2)

par

1620s, "equality," also "value of one currency in terms of another," from Latin par "equal, equal-sized, well-matched," also as a noun, "that which is equal, equality," of unknown origin. Watkins suggests perhaps from PIE root *pere- "to grant, allot," with suggestion of reciprocality (see part (n.)).

Another guess connects it with PIE root *per- "to traffic in, sell" (on notion of "give equal value for"); see pornography. Meaning "average or usual amount" is first attested 1767. Golf usage is first attested 1898. Figurative use of par for the course is from 1928.

Word Origin and History for par (1 of 2)

par

prep.

"by, for," mid-13c., from Old French par, per, from Latin per (see per).

Medicine definitions for par

par

[ pär ]

n. pl. pa•ri•a (pä′rē-ə)

A pair; specifically, a pair of cranial nerves.

Idioms and Phrases with par

par

In addition to the idiom beginning with par

par for the course

also see:

below par
on a par with
up to par

par

noun

adjective

verb (used with object), parred, par·ring.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of par

Definition for par (2 of 4)

par

adjective Insurance.

Origin of par

Definition for par (3 of 4)

par.

Definition for par (4 of 4)

par-

Examples from the Web for par

British Dictionary definitions for par (1 of 4)

par

noun

adjective

Word Origin for par

British Dictionary definitions for par (2 of 4)

par-

prefix

British Dictionary definitions for par (3 of 4)

par.

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for par (4 of 4)

Par.

abbreviation for

Word Origin and History for par (1 of 2)

par

Word Origin and History for par (1 of 2)

par

Medicine definitions for par

par

n. pl. pa•ri•a (pä′rē-ə)

Idioms and Phrases with par

par