par

1 of 2

noun

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.

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
If the curriculum was up to par and teachers were allowed to teach, scores will start to rise. Madeleine Parrish, The Arizona Republic, 8 Oct. 2024 Its donations to political candidates are on par with those of the oil-and-gas industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and labor unions. Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 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 See all Example Sentences for par 

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.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of par was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near par

Cite this Entry

“Par.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/par. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

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
: a usual standard of physical condition or health
his insulin production … is not up to parP. G. Donohue

Legal 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 adjective
Etymology

Noun

Latin, one that is equal, from par equal

More from Merriam-Webster on par

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!