nonpareil

[ non-puh-rel ]

adjective

1. having no equal; peerless.

   Synonyms: unparalleled

   Antonyms: ordinary

noun

1. a person or thing having no equal.

   Synonyms: nonesuch

2. a small pellet of colored sugar for decorating candy, cake, and cookies.
3. a flat, round, bite-sized piece of chocolate covered with this sugar.
4. painted bunting ( def ).
5. Printing.
   1. a 6-point type.
   2. a slug occupying 6 points of space between lines.

nonpareil

/ ˌnɒnpəˈreɪl; ˈnɒnpərəl /

noun

1. a person or thing that is unsurpassed or unmatched; peerless example
2. (formerly) a size of printers' type equal to 6 point
3. a small bead of coloured sugar used to decorate cakes, biscuits, etc
4. a flat round piece of chocolate covered with this sugar

adjective

1. having no match or equal; peerless

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonpareil¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English nonparail(le), from Middle French nonpareil, “unrivalled, peerless,” equivalent to non- non- + pareil “equal,” from Vulgar Latin pariculus, Late Latin pāriculus, a diminutive adjective and noun formed from Latin pār (inflectional stem pāri- “equal, an equal”) + -culus diminutive suffix; -cle ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonpareil¹

C15: from French, from non- + pareil same

Example Sentences

This is a test of whether public television can support a show like this as it does its nonpareil documentary series, Frontline.

From The Daily Beast

What high person would not keep for himself, to say nothing of eating, some fraction of such a Nonpareil?

From Project Gutenberg

The 'Nonpareil Speaker' will be welcomed by parents and teachers for the fresh material graded for all ages.

From Project Gutenberg

This fruit has been thought to resemble the Ohio Nonpareil, but I think it is different.

From Project Gutenberg

The Nonpareil Parrot is perhaps the most beautiful bird of the parrot tribe in the whole world.

From Project Gutenberg

The point is 1⁄12 of a Pica; Nonpareil would accordingly be called six points.

From Project Gutenberg