par

Pluralpars

Formspars, parring, parred

1. 1
   equal footingnouncountable or uncountable

   The state of being equal in condition or circumstances.

   The settlement put the women's team on a par with the men's in pay and travel.

   The two candidates started the race on par, with the same money and name recognition.

   UsageMost often in on a par with, also written on par with: on a par with the men's team.

   Similarparity, equality

2. 2
   set stroke countnoununcountable

   In golf, the number of strokes a skilled player is expected to need for a hole or a course; also, a score of exactly that number on a hole.

   A long drive and a solid chip left him a short putt for par.

   She shot three under par on the back nine to take the lead.

   UsageUsually without a: under par, over par, even par, a putt for par.

   Note

   Every hole is assigned a figure, based mainly on its length, and the holes add up to a par for the whole course. A putt for par is the stroke that will match the figure exactly, and that score on a hole is itself called a par, as in four pars in a row. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

   • Each golf hole is assigned a par based mainly on its length. resources.pga.org
   • The course par is the sum of the individual holes' pars. en.wikipedia.org
3. 3
   normal levelnounUKcountable or uncountable

   An amount regarded as the average or mean level.

   The firm's profits for the quarter were slightly above par for the sector.

   Turnout at the autumn fixtures was roughly par for a mid-table side.

   UsageUsually above par or below par, often with for: above par for the sector.

   Similaraverage, norm, standard

   Note

   In British use the word can mean simply the usual level, with no target built in, so profits or turnout come in above par or below par for the sector or the season. That is the difference from golf's par, which is a standard fixed in advance; here the yardstick is whatever counts as normal. Source

   Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

   • Golf's par is a standard fixed in advance. en.wiktionary.org
4. 4
   by (French)prepositionin compounds

   Used only within phrases borrowed from French, where it means by or with, as in par excellence.

   He was the showman par excellence, never happier than in front of a crowd.

   The letter went par avion, with a blue airmail sticker on the envelope.

   UsageComes after its noun in par excellence: the showman par excellence.

   Note

   It comes from French par, "through, by," and before that from Latin per, which makes English per its double; the par of equal value is a different word altogether. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

   • The preposition derives from French par, meaning “through, by,” and ultimately Latin per; it is distinct from the equal-value noun derived from Latin pār. en.wiktionary.org
   • English par and per are etymological doublets. en.wiktionary.org
5. 5
   face valuenouncountable or uncountable

   Equal value, or equality between nominal and actual value; also, the value stated on the face of a bond or other commercial paper.

   When interest rates fell, the bonds began trading well above par.

   When the new currency replaced the old one at par, prices in the shops did not change at all.

   UsageUsually at par, above par or below par: bonds trading above par.

   Note

   Latin pār, "equal," is the root here, and the same word gives golf its target score. In finance a bond trades at par when its price matches its face value, and above or below par when it does not. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

   • The financial noun and the golf scoring term derive from Latin pār, meaning “equal.” en.wiktionary.org
   • A bond trades at par when its price equals its face value; above and below par indicate higher and lower prices. en.wikipedia.org

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