paramount

1 of 2

adjective

par·​a·​mount ˈper-ə-ˌmau̇nt How to pronounce paramount (audio)
ˈpa-rə-
: superior to all others : supreme
a matter of paramount importance
Unemployment was the paramount issue in the election.
paramountcy noun
paramountly adverb

paramount

2 of 2

noun

: a supreme ruler
Choose the Right Synonym for paramount

dominant, predominant, paramount, preponderant mean superior to all others in influence or importance.

dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling.

a dominant social class

predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence.

a predominant emotion

paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction.

unemployment was the paramount issue in the campaign

preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect.

preponderant evidence in her favor

Examples of paramount in a Sentence

Adjective the paramount goal is to restore the colonial-era house with complete historical accuracy maintaining the secrecy of the agreement is of paramount importance
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
This is particularly powerful in direct-to-consumer models, where establishing trust and credibility is paramount. Jacob Collins, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 Safety was paramount, not just for me, but for the president and all the other residents of the White House. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2024 In reference to Republicans' continued efforts to ban books in schools that contain LGBTQ+ issues, the governor pushed back, telling the crowd of 3,500 that children’s safety is paramount. Sam Woodward, USA TODAY, 22 Sep. 2024 The restoration of virtue and bodily sanctity were of paramount importance, and many felt that having a child out of wedlock would threaten those aims. Kali Nicole Gross / Made By History, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for paramount 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paramount.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Anglo-French paramont, from par by (from Latin per) + amunt above, from a to (from Latin ad) + munt mountain — more at for, at, mount

First Known Use

Adjective

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paramount was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near paramount

Cite this Entry

“Paramount.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paramount. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

paramount

adjective
par·​a·​mount
ˈpar-ə-ˌmau̇nt
: superior to all others : supreme
of paramount importance

Geographical Definition

Paramount

geographical name

Par·​a·​mount ˈper-ə-ˌmau̇nt How to pronounce Paramount (audio)
ˈpa-rə-
city in southwestern California north of Long Beach population 54,098

More from Merriam-Webster on paramount

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!