par excellence

American  

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

adjective

1. being an example of excellence; superior; preeminent (used postpositively).

   a chef par excellence.

---

adverb

1. above all; preeminently.

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

par excellence British  

/ pɑːr ˈɛksələns, par ɛksɛlɑ̃s /

adverb

1. to a degree of excellence; beyond comparison

   she is the charitable lady par excellence

---

Etymology

Origin of par excellence

From French

Example Sentences

In her infamous Brisbane speech, Shriver hailed the novelist as cultural appropriator par excellence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

“He has a vision for our country. He has knowledge of issues par excellence from all of the years that he’s served. He’s a strategic thinker,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

Warm, vivid and funny, Shalhoub and Aghdashloo are theatrical storytellers par excellence, tapped movingly into their characters’ lifetime of memories.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2024

Neither her Jane nor Glover’s John are operatives par excellence, which is where the farce creeps in.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2024

The opening words of Antony’s funeral oration in Julius Caesar are, covertly, an ethos appeal par excellence: a positioning of the speaker with relation to the crowd.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith