para

[ pah-rah, pahr-ah ]

/ pɑˈrɑ, ˈpɑr ɑ /

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noun, plural pa·ras, pa·ra.

a coin and monetary unit of Macedonia and Serbia, one 100th of a dinar.

formerly, a coin and monetary unit of Yugoslavia, one 100th of a dinar.

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Origin of para

First recorded in 1905–10; from Serbo-Croatian pàra, from Turkish; see para²

Words nearby para

papule, papyraceous, papyrology, papyrus, par, para, para-aminobenzoic acid, parabasis, paraben, parabiosis, parablast

Other definitions for para (2 of 10)

para²

[ pah-rah, pahr-ah ]

/ pɑˈrɑ, ˈpɑr ɑ /

noun, plural pa·ras, pa·ra.

a former copper coin of Turkey, the 40th part of a piaster.

Origin of para

First recorded in1680–90; from Turkish, from Persian pāra, literally, “piece”

Other definitions for para (3 of 10)

para³

[ par-uh ]

/ ˈpær ə /

adjective Chemistry.

pertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 4) in the benzene ring that are separated by two carbon atoms.Compare ortho, meta³.

noun

para-dichlorobenzene.

Origin of para

First recorded in 1875–80; independent use of para-¹

Other definitions for para (4 of 10)

para⁴

[ par-uh ]

/ ˈpær ə /

noun Informal.

paraprofessional.

paratrooper.

paragraph.

Origin of para

⁴

By shortening of words compounded with para-¹, para-³

Other definitions for para (5 of 10)

para⁵

[ par-uh ]

/ ˈpær ə /

noun, plural par·as, par·ae

[par-ee]. /ˈpær i/. Obstetrics.

Also called parity . a woman's status regarding the bearing of viable offspring: usually followed by a Roman numeral designating the number of times the woman has given birth.

the woman herself.

Compare gravida.

Origin of para

⁵

First recorded in 1880–85; extracted from primipara, multipara, etc.

Other definitions for para (6 of 10)

para-¹

a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, most often attached to verbs and verbal derivatives, with the meanings “at or to one side of, beside, side by side” (parabola; paragraph; parallel; paralysis), “beyond, past, by” (paradox; paragogue); by extension from these senses, this prefix came to designate objects or activities auxiliary to or derivative of that denoted by the base word (parody; paronomasia), and hence abnormal or defective (paranoia), a sense now common in modern scientific coinages (parageusia; paralexia). As an English prefix, para-1 may have any of these senses; it is also productive in the naming of occupational roles considered ancillary or subsidiary to roles requiring more training, or of a higher status, on such models as paramedical and paraprofessional: paralegal; paralibrarian; parapolice.

Chemistry. a combining form designating the para (1, 4) position in the benzene ring. Abbreviation: p-.Compare meta- (def. 4b), ortho- (def. 2b).

Also especially before a vowel, par- .

Origin of para-

<Greek para-, combining form representing pará (preposition) beside, alongside of, by, beyond

Other definitions for para (7 of 10)

para-²

a combining form meaning “guard against,” occurring in loanwords from French, or, via French, from Italian: parachute; parasol.

Origin of para-

<French <Italian para, 3rd singular present of parare to prepare against, ward off <Latin parāre to prepare

Other definitions for para (8 of 10)

para-³

a combining form extracted from parachute, forming compounds denoting persons or things utilizing parachutes or landed by parachute: paradrop; paradoctor; paraglider; paratrooper.

Other definitions for para (9 of 10)

Pará

[ pah-rah ]

/ pɑˈrɑ /

noun

an estuary in N Brazil: an arm of the Amazon. 200 miles (320 km) long; 40 miles (65 km) wide.

Belém.

Pará rubber.

Other definitions for para (10 of 10)

Para.

abbreviation

Paraguay.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use para in a sentence

In the early years of most para-sports, including track and field, there was little specialized equipment.
Why Wheelchair Racers Outpace Olympic Distance Runners — But Not Sprinters|John Loeppky|August 23, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Like many para-sports, track and field runs on a classification model, attempting to place athletes with similar impairments — their word, not mine — in competition against one another.
Why Wheelchair Racers Outpace Olympic Distance Runners — But Not Sprinters|John Loeppky|August 23, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
There is a danger in much of sports media to look at the tools rather than the competitor, particularly when it comes to para-sport coverage.
Why Wheelchair Racers Outpace Olympic Distance Runners — But Not Sprinters|John Loeppky|August 23, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
In fact, the roots of para-feminist girlbossery run much deeper.
Pop Culture Is Finally Getting Over the Girlboss Heroine. What Comes Next?|Judy Berman|June 17, 2021|Time

This concern has heightened greatly with mounting evidence of Bolsonaro’s family’s ties to Rio’s para-military gangs.
A Deadly Police Raid in Rio Show How Bolsonaro's Policies Are Wreaking Havoc in Brazil|David Miranda|May 8, 2021|Time
Today, airplanes mainly hunt submarines by para-dropping a pattern of sonobuoys, most of which are passive listening devices.
Tomorrow’s Stealthy Subs Could Sink America’s Navy|Bill Sweetman|May 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Republicans have called their in-house campaign tech start-up Para Bellum Labs.
Republicans Better Mind the Modernity Gap To Catch Up to Clinton|Lloyd Green|March 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And your 2005 Sundance short, Victoria para chino, was a pretty big hit.
True Detective Director Cary Fukunaga’s Journey from Pro Snowboarder to Hollywood’s Most Wanted|Marlow Stern|February 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The superintendent and many of the workers go down the river to Para and Manaos or to villages on higher ground.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various
Up to this time, all the rubber was called Para rubber, named from the town of Para in Brazil, from which all rubber was shipped.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various
Our picture shows a bin of crude up-river Para the finest rubber known.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge|Various
Methæmoglobin in the blood smaller than in para-acetamido-phenol, but more than when the methyl or ethyl compound is administered.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection|Alexander Wynter Blyth
The influence of position of an alkyl in the aromatic bodies is well shown in ortho-, para- and meta-derivatives.
Poisons: Their Effects and Detection|Alexander Wynter Blyth

British Dictionary definitions for para (1 of 6)

para¹

/ (ˈpɑːrə) /

noun plural -ras or -ra

a monetary unit of Serbia worth one hundredth of a dinar; formerly a monetary unit of Yugoslavia

Word Origin for para

C17: Serbo-Croat, via Turkish from Persian pārah piece, portion

British Dictionary definitions for para (2 of 6)

para²

/ (ˈpærə) /

noun informal

a soldier in an airborne unit
an airborne unit

a paragraph

British Dictionary definitions for para (3 of 6)

para³

/ (ˈpɑːrɑː) /

noun plural para

a New Zealand fern, Marattia salicina, with long heavy frondsAlso called: horseshoe fern, king fern

Word Origin for para

Māori

British Dictionary definitions for para (4 of 6)

para-¹

before a vowel par-

prefix

beside; nearparameter; parathyroid

beyondparapsychology

resemblingparamnesia

defective; abnormalparaesthesia

subsidiary toparaphysis

(usually in italics) denoting that an organic compound contains a benzene ring with substituents attached to atoms that are directly opposite across the ring (the 1,4- positions)paradinitrobenzene; para- cresol Abbreviation: p- Compare ortho- (def. 4), meta- (def. 4)

denoting an isomer, polymer, or compound related to a specified compoundparaldehyde; paracasein

denoting the form of a diatomic substance in which the spins of the two constituent atoms are antiparallelparahydrogen Compare ortho- (def. 6)

Word Origin for para-

from Greek para (prep) alongside, beyond

British Dictionary definitions for para (5 of 6)

para-²

combining form

indicating an object that acts as a protection against somethingparachute; parasol

Word Origin for para-

via French from Italian para-, from parare to defend, shield against, ultimately from Latin parāre to prepare

British Dictionary definitions for para (6 of 6)

Pará

/ (Portuguese paˈra) /

noun

a state of N Brazil, on the Atlantic: mostly dense tropical rainforest Capital: Belém. Pop: 6 453 683 (2002). Area: 1 248 042 sq km (474 896 sq miles)

another name for Belém

an estuary in N Brazil into which flow the Tocantins River and a branch of the Amazon. Length: about 320 km (200 miles)

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