par excellence

adjective

par ex·​cel·​lence ˈpär-ˌek-sə-ˈläns  ˈpär-ˌek-sə-ˈläⁿs 

: being the best of a kind : preeminent

a chef par excellence

Synonyms

• A-OK
• A1
• awesome
• bang-up
• banner
• beautiful
• blue-chip
• blue-ribbon
• boffo
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• boss [slang]
• brag
• brave
• bully
• bumper
• capital
• choice
• classic
• cool [slang]
• corking
• crackerjack
• cracking
• dandy
• divine
• dope [slang]
• down [slang]
• dynamite
• excellent
• fab
• fabulous
• famous
• fantabulous [slang]
• fantastic
• fine
• first-class
• first-rate
• first-string
• five-star
• four-star
• frontline
• gangbusters
• gangbuster
• gilt-edged
• gilt-edge
• gone [slang]
• grand
• great
• groovy
• heavenly
• high-class
• hot
• hype [slang]
• immense
• jim-dandy
• keen
• lovely
• marvelous
• marvellous
• mean
• neat
• nifty
• noble
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• out-of-sight [slang]
• peachy
• peachy keen
• phat [slang]
• prime
• primo [slang]
• prize
• prizewinning
• quality
• radical [slang]
• righteous [slang]
• sensational
• slick
• splendid
• stellar
• sterling
• superb
• superior
• superlative
• supernal
• swell
• terrific
• tip-top
• top
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• top-shelf
• topflight
• topping [chiefly British]
• unsurpassed
• wizard [chiefly British]
• wonderful

Examples of par excellence in a Sentence

sophisticated cuisine that is obviously the work of a chef par excellence

Recent Examples on the Web

Exuberant and explosive, Real Americans is a social novel par excellence that asks: Are we destined, or made, and if so, who gets to do the making? —Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024

The private event was an industry schmooze par excellence, something like if Jay Gatsby decided to throw an unofficial SXSW showcase, and the tunes, like everything else, were top-shelf. —Cat Cardenas, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024

Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) encapsulates—par excellence—the rise of the Anatolians in the country. —Soner Cagaptay, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024

Brazil, India and Nigeria look on as Britain and France, former colonial powers par excellence, remain as two of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. —Roger Cohen, New York Times, 10 Dec. 2023

Through Khaled’s oddly paralyzed exile, Matar offers a beautifully panoptic portrait of London as the city of literary exile and emigration par excellence, a place where the Arab intelligentsia came in the seventies and eighties and after. —James Wood, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024

Suzuki was an artist par excellence because his philosophy towards art was the same as his philosophy towards life. —Joshua Minsoo Kim, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2024

For the scientists, the choice of the brain of the house mouse (Mus musculus) is obvious: The rodent is the model organism par excellence in biology and medicine. —Karin Schlott, Scientific American, 18 Dec. 2023

Buy Now on Saks Fifth Avenue: $235 Shop Now on Ralph Lauren Shop Now on Neiman Marcus Charvet Circle-Print Silk Tie Founded in 1838, Charvet is a Parisian institution known for outfitting royalty and U.S. presidents with the finest shirting and ties (and pajamas and dressing gowns par excellence). —Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, by excellence

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

par excellence

adverb or adjective

par ex·​cel·​lence ˌpär-ˌek-sə-ˈläns 

: in the highest degree : above all others