# paragon

/ˈpɛɹəˌɡɑn/ (US) · /pˈæɹəɡən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/paragon
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a model of excellence

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a person or thing that is a perfect example of a good quality.

For teachers: a person or thing viewed as a model of excellence or a perfect embodiment of a particular virtue.

- The local library was considered a paragon of modern design and efficiency.
- In the Victorian era, she was often held up as a paragon of virtue and domestic propriety by the local press.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 2. a large diamond

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a very large, perfect diamond that weighs at least 100 carats.

For teachers: a flawless diamond weighing at least 100 carats.

- The museum displayed a rare paragon that had once belonged to a king.
- The auction house announced the sale of a 102-carat paragon, expected to break previous records for colorless stones.

### 3. printing type size

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a specific size of old printing letters, about 20 points big.

For teachers: a size of type between great primer and double pica, standardized as 20-point.

- The old book was printed in paragon type to make it easier to read.
- The historian noted that the 18th-century manuscript utilized paragon for the headers to distinguish them from the body text.

### 4. to compare or equal

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to compare someone to another person, or to be just as good as them.

For teachers: to compare, parallel, or serve as a model for; to equal or surpass in quality.

- No other athlete could paragon his speed on the track.
- The poet sought to paragon the beauty of the landscape with the grace of his beloved in the final stanza.

Usage: This verb use is rare in modern English and is typically found in Renaissance literature.

## Examples

- She is a paragon of patience and kindness.
- The local community center is often cited as a paragon of efficiency, managing hundreds of volunteers with a very small budget.
- In his latest novel, the protagonist is presented not as a flawed human, but as a paragon of stoic virtue, which some critics found unrealistic.

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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.