par

1 of 2

noun

ˈpär 

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

par

2 of 2

verb

parred; parring

transitive verb

: to score par on (a hole)

Phrases

par for the course

: not unusual : normal

It's par for the course that she's late to the meeting.

Synonyms

Noun

• bar
• barometer
• benchmark
• criterion
• gold standard
• grade
• mark
• measure
• metric
• standard
• touchstone
• yardstick

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

Noun

Not quite on par with the likes of Dimitri Payet and Jay-Jay Okocha, but capable of an eye-catching moment every now and then. —Ajay Rose, New York Times, 18 June 2025

But for the Reinsdorf family, this is par for the course. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025

Verb

As the sun broke through the early haze on the relatively tree-less Oakmont course around midday, Burns stayed cool to par his last five holes. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 13 June 2025

Both players once again laid up and were each lucky to even par the hole. —Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Latin, one that is equal, from par equal

First Known Use

Noun

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1950, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing par

• above par
• below par
• no-par
• no-par-value
• on (a) par with
• par excellence
• par value
• sub-par
• under par
• up to par

Rhymes for par

• ar
• are
• bar
• barr
• car
• carr
• char
• charr
• czar
• far
• farre
• haar

Kids Definition

par

noun

ˈpär

1

a

: the fixed value of the unit of money of one country expressed in terms of the unit of money of another country

b

: the face value or issuing price of a stock or bond

2

: common level : equality

3

: an accepted standard (as of health)

not feeling up to par

4

: the standard score for a golf hole or course

par adjective

Etymology

Noun

from Latin par (noun) "one that is equal," from par (adjective) "equal" — related to compare, pair, peer, umpire see Word History at umpire

Medical Definition

par

noun

ˈpär 

: a usual standard of physical condition or health

his insulin production … is not up to par

—P. G. Donohue

Legal Definition

par

1 of 2 noun

ˈpär 

: 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 adjective

: participating

Etymology

Noun

Latin, one that is equal, from par equal