1
a
: the established value of the monetary unit of one country expressed in terms of the monetary unit of another country using the same metal as the standard of value
b
: the face amount of an instrument of value (such as a check or note): such as
(1)
: the monetary value assigned to each share of stock in the charter of a corporation
(2)
: the principal of a bond
2
: common level : equality
—usually used with on
judged the recording to be on a par with previous ones
3
a
: an amount taken as an average or norm
b
: an accepted standard
specifically
: a usual standard of physical condition or health
wasn't feeling up to par today
4
: the score standard for each hole of a golf course
The 18th hole is a par 5.
also
: a score equal to par
par
adjective
Synonyms
Examples of par in a Sentence
Noun
He made par on the ninth hole.
She finished the 18th hole three strokes under par.
He made a par on the ninth hole.
She made nine pars in a row.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gabriel Zamora, PCMAG, 25 Apr. 2024
There are signs that Cirque is starting to figure this out: Mad Apple, resident at the New York–New York in Las Vegas since 2022, is a mix of cabaret, dancing, and humor, and is playing to 80% full houses, on par with historical averages.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024
The Maybach’s suspension is on par with Rolls-Royce’s magic carpet suspension.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2024
The Patriots, who are eighth in the Bay Area News Group rankings, believe they should be considered on par with top teams like Acalanes, Granada and De La Salle as the best team in the North Coast Section.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Plans call for changing what was once an 18-hole layout to one with a full-length nine-hole course and a shorter nine-hole par 3 course.
—Joe Heim, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
Shipley shot a 1-over 73 in his final round to finish 12-over par overall.
—Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2024
Four of the last 10 green jacket winners fell short of the six-over par cut line – Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth, and Bubba Watson – while two more only narrowly squeezed through.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
That's roughly on par with the previous year's income and income taxes.
—Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024
Scooby Axson, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2023
Rahm rebounded from the episode to par the final hole for his first Masters win.
—Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2023
Green, winner of the 2019 Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, needed only to par the final two holes to win.
—Star Tribune, 2 May 2021
Teeing off in the mid-afternoon Friday in Georgia, Finau scrambled well enough to par the first three holes.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Nov. 2020
Noun
That worked well and was on par with other mobile-aware competitors, like GetResponse and HubSpot Marketing Hub.
—Gabriel Zamora, PCMAG, 25 Apr. 2024
There are signs that Cirque is starting to figure this out: Mad Apple, resident at the New York–New York in Las Vegas since 2022, is a mix of cabaret, dancing, and humor, and is playing to 80% full houses, on par with historical averages.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024
The Maybach’s suspension is on par with Rolls-Royce’s magic carpet suspension.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2024
The Patriots, who are eighth in the Bay Area News Group rankings, believe they should be considered on par with top teams like Acalanes, Granada and De La Salle as the best team in the North Coast Section.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Plans call for changing what was once an 18-hole layout to one with a full-length nine-hole course and a shorter nine-hole par 3 course.
—Joe Heim, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
Shipley shot a 1-over 73 in his final round to finish 12-over par overall.
—Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2024
Four of the last 10 green jacket winners fell short of the six-over par cut line – Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth, and Bubba Watson – while two more only narrowly squeezed through.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
That's roughly on par with the previous year's income and income taxes.
—Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2024
Verb
Tiger Woods resumes second round, pars first two holes to remain at 2-over Woods got through 12 holes during Friday's round and started early on Saturday trying to stay above the cut line.
—Scooby Axson, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2023
Rahm rebounded from the episode to par the final hole for his first Masters win.
—Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2023
Green, winner of the 2019 Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, needed only to par the final two holes to win.
—Star Tribune, 2 May 2021
Teeing off in the mid-afternoon Friday in Georgia, Finau scrambled well enough to par the first three holes.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Nov. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'par.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near par
Cite this Entry
“Par.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/par. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
par
noun
: a usual standard of physical condition or health
his insulin production … is not up to par—P. G. Donohue
P. G. DonohueLegal Definition
par
1 of 2 noun
: the face amount of an instrument of value (as a check or note): as
a
: the monetary value assigned to each share of stock in the charter of a corporation
b
: the principal of a bond
par
2 of 2 adjectiveEtymology
Noun
Latin, one that is equal, from par equal
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