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.

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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

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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

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

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2024

The anti-democratic philosopher par excellence, Nietzsche believed that humanity can only take the next evolutionary leap if a strong leader—the so-called übermensch, or “overman”—exerts his will over the rudderless masses.

From Slate • Aug. 5, 2023

A piss-taker par excellence, Alice consistently puts Ben in his place, something he and the movie badly need; her blunt, cutting appraisals, even when they’re spot-on, can’t help but tease out Ben’s softer side.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2023

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