paragon

American  

[par-uh-gon, -guhn] / ˈpær əˌgɒn, -gən /

noun

1. a model or pattern of excellence or of a particular excellence.

   a paragon of virtue.

   Synonyms:

   paradigm, exemplar, example, quintessence, epitome, standard, ideal

2. someone of exceptional merit.

   Just who is this paragon whose name is on everyone's lips?

   Synonyms:

   nonpareil, nonesuch

3. Printing. a 20-point type.

4. an unusually large, round pearl.

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verb (used with object)

1. Rare. to compare; parallel.

2. Archaic. to be a match for; rival.

3. Obsolete. to surpass.

4. Obsolete. to regard as a paragon.

paragon British  

/ ˈpærəɡən /

noun

1. a model of excellence; pattern

   a paragon of virtue

2. a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 20 point

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verb

1. archaic

   1. to equal or surpass

   2. to compare

   3. to regard as a paragon

Other Word Forms

• paragonless adjective

Etymology

Origin of paragon

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French paragon, parangon “model,” from Old Italian paragone “touchstone,” from paragonare “to compare, test on a touchstone,” from Greek parakonân “to sharpen, whet,” equivalent to para- “beside, alongside” + akonân “to sharpen, whet,” a derivative of akónē “whetstone, bone”

Example Sentences

Just two days earlier, I’d been on the slopes in Vermont fancying myself a paragon of wellness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Stephen Colbert doesn’t see himself as a paragon of progressivism.

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2025

And Lord knows I’m unmeasured in other areas day-to-day, too, so it’s not like I’m some paragon of containment, but yeah, just the revenge thing, there’s a lot of schoolyard stuff going on.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2025

It’s worth noting that Weiss herself does not appear to be a paragon of newsroom professionalism.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2025

And the teacher was not only an intellectual paragon and a social leader, but also the matrimonial catch of the countryside.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• apotheosis
• epitome
• exemplar