par

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablesport

   In golf, the number of shots an expert is expected to need to finish a hole or a whole course.

   Grammar: Often follows a number or the: par for the course, a par four.

   Patterns

   • par for the hole
   • two under par

   The sixth hole is a par four, so a good player aims for four strokes.

   She finished the round two under par.

   He sank a long putt to make par on the last hole.

2. 2nounsingularfigurative

   A normal or average standard that people expect.

   Grammar: Appears in the phrases up to par, below par and on a par with.

   Patterns

   • on a par with something
   • up to par
   • below par

   The movie was not up to par with the first one.

   I'm feeling a bit below par today.

   The cafe's service is on a par with that of much pricier places.

3. 3nounsingularfinancetechnical

   In finance, the face value written on a bond or share.

   Grammar: Used with at, above or below: sold at par.

   Patterns

   • at par
   • above par
   • below par

   The bonds were sold at par.

   Shares dropped below par after the announcement.

   A bond trading above par costs more than its face value.

Word forms

Common combinations

par for the course

A little rain on a camping trip is par for the course.

under par

She is two under par after nine holes.

on a par with

His skill is on a par with the best players.

below par

The team played below par in the first half.

up to par

The food was not up to par.

par four

The fourth hole is a tricky par four.

Synonyms and how they differ

standard

Standard is a general word for the expected level, whereas par is idiomatic and often used with below or up to.

average

Average is a statistical middle, whereas par is the level you expect or aim for.

norm

Norm refers to what is typical in a group, while par is the expected level for a task or performance.

face value

Face value is the nominal amount written on a financial item, which is what par means in banking.

Opposites

Word family

parity noun

equality in standing or amount

par-three noun

a short golf hole that a good player should finish in three strokes

subpar adjective

below the usual or expected standard

Commonly confused: par or per?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “par”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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