par

¹

[pahr]

noun

1. Finance.

   1. the legally established value of the monetary unit of one country in terms of that of another using the same metal as a standard of value.

   2. the state of the shares of any business, undertaking, loan, etc., when they may be purchased at the original price issue par or at their face value nominal par.

2. an equality in value or standing; a level of equality.

   The gains and the losses are on a par.

3. an average, usual, or normal amount, degree, quality, condition, standard, or the like.

   above par;

   to feel below par.

4. Golf.,  the number of strokes set as a standard for a specific hole or a complete course.

adjective

1. average or normal.

2. Finance.,  at or pertaining to par.

   the par value of a bond.

verb (used with object)

parred, parring 

1. Golf.,  to equal par on (a hole or course).

par

²

[pahr]

adjective

Insurance.

1. of or relating to participating insurance.

par-

³

1. variant of para- before a vowel.

   parenchyma.

par.

⁴

abbreviation

1. paragraph.

2. parallel.

3. parenthesis.

4. parish.

par

¹

/ pɑː /

noun

1. an accepted level or standard, such as an average (esp in the phrase up to par )

2. a state of equality (esp in the phrase on a par with )

3. finance the established value of the unit of one national currency in terms of the unit of another where both are based on the same metal standard

4. commerce

   1. See par value

   2. the condition of equality between the current market value of a share, bond, etc, and its face value (the nominal par ). This equality is indicated by at par, while above ( or below ) par indicates that the market value is above (or below) face value

5. golf an estimated standard score for a hole or course that a good player should make

   par for the course was 72

6. not feeling or performing as well as normal

7. an expected or normal occurrence or situation

adjective

1. average or normal

2. (usually prenominal) commerce of or relating to par

   par value

par.

²

abbreviation

1. paragraph

2. parenthesis

3. parish

Par.

³

abbreviation

1. Paraguay

par-

⁴

prefix

1. a variant of para- 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of par¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin pār “matching, equal”

Origin of par²

Shortening of participating

Word History and Origins

Origin of par¹

C17: from Latin pār equal, on a level; see _peer ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at par, (of a share) purchasable at issue par or nominal par.

2. par for the course, exactly what one might expect; predictable; typical.

   They were late again, but that's par for the course.

More idioms and phrases containing par

• below par
• on a par with
• up to par

Example Sentences

Fleetwood was also the first player to finish inside the top six of the leaderboard after every round of the FedEx Cup play-offs and ended the three-tournament series with an aggregate score of 43 under par over the 12 rounds.

From BBC

The United States lost a Pacific Four Series Test to reigning world champions New Zealand 79-14 in May, so England may consider this scoreline par for the course.

From BBC

But these toiled-over films are no immaculate conception; the “Avatar” franchise has been delayed so long it’s a miracle we’re seeing the third film at all, and judging from the first glimpses, “Fire and Ash” looks like it’ll be more on par with the warring action of the first film than 2022’s seaside spectacle, “The Way of Water.”

From Salon

Most of it is on par with what you’re going to get at a typical non-vegan Thai spot.

From Los Angeles Times

Obviously, this is a commercial musical and not a literary masterpiece on par with Shakespeare’s tragedy of ill-starred lovers.

From Los Angeles Times