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definitions

par excellence

[ pahr ek-suh-lahns, ek-suh-lans; French pa-rek-se-lahns ]
/ pɑr ˌɛk səˈlɑns, ˈɛk səˌlæns; French pa rɛk sɛˈlɑ̃s /
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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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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. papyritious,
  2. papyrology,
  3. papyrus,
  4. par,
  5. par avion,
  6. par for the course,
  7. par value,
  8. par-,
  9. par-three,
  10. par.

Origin of par excellence

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

Examples 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
Word Origin and History for par excellence

par excellence

French, from Latin per excellentiam "by the way of excellence." From French par "by way of, by means of," from Latin per (see per). For second element see excellence.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper