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
The financial impact of the Oscars may not be on par with the billions-dollar boost of Taylor Swift or the Super Bowl—but the show is just as popcorn-worthy. Jasmine Li, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024 Trump’s statewide margin would be on par with what polls showed. Kendrick Marshall, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 That number is higher than in 2020, but on par with the 18 percent who expressed negative views of both Mr. Trump and Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, in 2016. Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 The Jains are at the forefront of a new movement in luxury menswear that positions clothes made in India on par with similar wares crafted in France, Italy, England, and the U.S. Aleks Cvetkovic, Robb Report, 2 Mar. 2024 Yet, its visuals are on par with films that cost twice as much. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 22 Feb. 2024 Opting for his 5-wood, McIlroy made par to win $200,000 and draw level with Thompson on the par-4 hole. Homero De La Fuente, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024 The law did not come close to putting the F.D.A., which oversees shelf-stable food, cheese and fresh produce, on par with the Department of Agriculture, the other major food regulator. Will Fitzgibbon, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Should Kraven the Hunter deliver another flop as appears likely, or even disappointingly low but not disastrous result — say perhaps $400 million, on par with a higher-performing DCEU release from the last five years — then Sony will be forced to rethink their plans. Mark Hughes, Forbes, 25 Feb. 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 Green, winner of the 2019 Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, needed only to par the final two holes to win. Star Tribune, 2 May 2021 Teeing off in the mid-afternoon Friday in Georgia, Finau scrambled well enough to par the first three holes. The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Nov. 2020

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 19 Mar. 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

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