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, par·ring.

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- ¹ before a vowel:

   parenchyma.

par.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. paragraph.
2. parallel.
3. parenthesis.
4. parish.

par-

¹

prefix

1. a variant of para- 1

par

²

/ 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. below par or under par
   not feeling or performing as well as normal
7. par for the course
   an expected or normal occurrence or situation

adjective

1. average or normal
2. usually prenominal commerce of or relating to par

   par value

par.

³

abbreviation for

1. paragraph
2. parenthesis
3. parish

Par.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. Paraguay

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, Finance. (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

In addition to the idiom beginning with par , also see below par ; on a par with ; up to par .

Example Sentences

They are never easy, but for Beauvais, public conversations about sensitive subjects have become par for the course.

From Los Angeles Times

Langer drove into the trees on the par-five closing hole but made a brilliant birdie to beat his age for a 22nd time and secure the win, as Alker could only make par.

From BBC

After parring the first hole, Song bogeyed the second and birdied the third, but found herself down three shots to Cleveland’s Momoka Takahashi, who birdied the first three holes.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s on par with the combined annual emissions of the European Union and Japan.

From Salon

Harvard historian and literary critic Henry Louis Gates Jr. said he viewed Jones’ influence and career milestones as being on par with American innovators and big thinkers like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Bill Gates.

From Los Angeles Times