par excellence
The ultimate example
Par excellence means better than all others of the same kind—the supreme example.
It follows the noun it modifies: She was a hostess par excellence.
The phrase is borrowed from French and retains a slightly formal or literary flavor, often used to emphasize that someone or something represents the ideal or ultimate version of a category.
Exceptionally good or unpaid
- supremeHighest in authority
- eliteSuperior select group
- distinguishedNotable and respected
- consummatePerfect beyond compare
masterful · illustrious · renowned · notable · admirable · superior · exceptional · definitive
Having no equal
- unequaledHaving no equivalent
- unsurpassedBeyond all others
- matchlessHaving no equal
- incomparableWithout equal or rival
unrivaled · transcendent · nonpareil · unmatched · paramount · sovereign · ultimate · foremost
Perfect representative of type
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- embodimentConcrete manifestation of idea
- apotheosisPeak or deification
ideal · perfection · essence · purest · distillation · paragon · exemplar · personification
outstanding
Exceptionally good or unpaid
- supremeHighest in authority
- eliteSuperior select group
- distinguishedNotable and respected
consummate · masterful · illustrious · renowned · notable · admirable · superior · exceptional · definitive · quintessential
peerless
Having no equal
- unequaledHaving no equivalent
- unsurpassedBeyond all others
- matchlessHaving no equal
incomparable · unrivaled · transcendent · nonpareil · unmatched · paramount · sovereign · ultimate · foremost · leading
epitome
Perfect representative of type
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
- embodimentConcrete manifestation of idea
apotheosis · ideal · perfection · essence · purest · distillation · paragon · exemplar · personification · incarnation
- French Loanwordsa la carte, ballet, a la mode, au revoir, bon appetit
- superlativessuperb, best, outstanding, supreme, finest
- loanwordsloanword, loan words, borrowings, borrowed words, loan word
par excellenceinferior
Of lower rank
substandard · poor · second-rate · deficient · third-rate
par excellenceatypical
Not conforming to type
unrepresentative · aberrant · anomalous · uncharacteristic · bad example
par excellencemediocre
Of only moderate quality
ordinary · average · unremarkable · run-of-the-mill · undistinguished
excellent, excel, excellence, excelling, preeminent, excellently, excelled