Dictionary.com

par excellence

[ pahr -ek-suh-lahns, ek-suh-lans; French pa-rek-se-lahns ]
/ pɑr ˌɛk səˈlɑns, ˈɛk səˌlæns; French pa rɛk sɛˈlɑ̃s /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR par excellence ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

being an example of excellence; superior; preeminent (used postpositively): a chef par excellence.

adverb

above all; preeminently.His method stands par excellence as the most reliable of all.

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Origin of par excellence

From French

Words nearby par excellence

Pareto, pareu, pareunia, parev, pareve, par excellence, parfait, parfleche, parfocal, par for the course, parfum
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to par excellence

excellent, preeminent, quintessential, supreme, eminently, incomparably, preeminently, superior, importantly, superiorly, supremely, the most

Example sentences from the Web for par excellence

  • The young authors considered their work to be par-excellence, but the adults in the audience forbore to render an opinion.

    Polly and Her Friends Abroad|Lillian Elizabeth Roy

British Dictionary definitions for par excellence

par excellence
/ French (par ɛksɛlɑ̃s, English pɑːr ˈɛksələns) /

adverb

to a degree of excellence; beyond comparisonshe is the charitable lady par excellence

Word Origin for par excellence

literally: by (way of) excellence
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