noun
par
pah
noun
1
A standard or average level considered normal or acceptable.
"His performance this quarter was below par."
2
In golf, the number of strokes a skilled player is expected to need to complete a hole.
"She finished the round two under par."
3
Equal value, especially the face value of a stock or bond compared with its market price.
"The bonds were trading at par."
How to Use Par
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA standard or expected level — used generally ("below par"), in golf scoring, and in finance for face value.
Common mistake
"Par for the course" means exactly what's expected (often something annoying), not literally about golf.
Common pairings
below par
on par with
par for the course
above par
Word Forms
parred past tense, parred past tense, pars plural, pars singular, pars singular
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His performance this quarter was below _____.
Etymology
From French par ("through, by"), from Latin per.