# par

/ˈpɑɹ/ (US) · /pˈɑː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/par
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. golf standard

noun · CEFR B2

the number of hits a good golf player should need to get the ball into a hole.

For teachers: the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient golfer is expected to require for a specific hole or round.

- He was happy to finish the difficult third hole on par.
- Despite the challenging wind conditions, the professional managed to finish the back nine two strokes under par.

### 2. average or standard

noun · CEFR B2

the usual or expected level for something.

For teachers: an accepted or expected standard; an average or normal level of quality or performance.

- The new model's performance is finally on a par with its competitors.
- The quality of the local library's digital collection is now on a par with that of much larger metropolitan institutions.

Usage: Commonly used in the idiom 'on a par with' to show equality.

### 3. financial face value

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the original value of a bond or stock as written on the certificate.

For teachers: the nominal or face value of a security, such as a stock or bond, rather than its market price.

- The bonds were issued at par but are now trading at a discount.
- Investors were hesitant to purchase the preferred shares when the market price dropped significantly below par.

## Examples

- His recent work is not quite up to par.
- The team's performance was below par during the first half of the season due to several injuries.
- While the initial prototype was impressive, the final production model must be on a par with international safety standards to succeed in the global market.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.