nonpareil

1 of 2

adjective

non·​pa·​reil ˌnän-pə-ˈrel 

: having no equal

Her performance was nonpareil.

Our baker's cakes are nonpareil.

a nonpareil drummer

nonpareil

2 of 2

noun

1

: an individual of unequaled excellence : paragon

2

a

: a small flat disk of chocolate covered with white sugar pellets

b

: sugar in small pellets of various colors

Did you know?

Trace nonpareil back to its Middle French origins and you'll find that it comes from a term meaning "not equal." Pareil itself comes from the Latin word par, which means "equal," and non- is a common prefix meaning "not." In addition to its adjectival use, nonpareil also functions as a noun referring to an individual of unequaled excellence (as in "the nonpareil of cellists") as well as to a chocolate candy disk covered with small sugar pellets. A full exploration of the word's history, and its current functions in French, can be found here.

Synonyms

Adjective

• only
• peerless
• unequalled
• excellent
• inimitable
• extraordinary
• matchless
• incomparable
• exceptional

Noun

• model
• idea
• example
• incarnation
• paragon
• ideal
• manifestation

Examples of nonpareil in a Sentence

Adjective

the nonpareil beauty of Helen of Troy

Noun

Elvis was the nonpareil of early American rock and roll.

among the knights of the Round Table, Galahad stood alone as the nonpareil of nobility and selflessness

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

That’s a credit to Guerrero, surely, but also to this nonpareil ensemble and their thorough preparation by chorus director Christopher Bell. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025

Make sure to visit nearby Seaside, where the Black Horse and Bayonet courses are notorious for degree of difficulty and nonpareil conditions (and also offer an affordable 36-hole package for $230). —David Weiss, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Noun

Weaver Nut Company, Inc., based in Pennsylvania, announced a voluntary recall for specific lots of its semi-sweet chocolate nonpareils on June 17 due to the possible undeclared presence of milk, a major food allergen. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025

On Monday, the FDA announced a recall of Wegmans chocolate nonpareils, sold in stores in 8 states and Washington, D.C. —Jenna Anderson, Health, 3 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English nounparalle, from Middle French nompareil, from non- + pareil equal, from Vulgar Latin *pariculus, from Latin par equal

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nonpareil

• campanile
• chrysotile
• domicil
• domicile
• mercantile
• neuropil
• percentile
• peristyle
• reconcile
• thermopile
• aisle
• bile

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Kids Definition

nonpareil

1 of 2 adjective

non·​pa·​reil ˌnän-pə-ˈrel 

: having no equal : peerless

nonpareil

2 of 2 noun

1

: an individual of unequaled excellence : paragon

2

: painted bunting