Word of the Day : September 23, 2025
Nonpareil
adjective nahn-puh-REL
What It Means
- Nonpareil describes that which has no equal because it is better than any other.
- // To this day, the band’s debut album is still considered nonpareil, raising the bar for every rock group to follow.
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NONPAREIL In Context
“The Crew’s soccer operations have been nonpareil during this latest golden era of their history.” — Michael Arace, The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, 24 Feb. 2025
Did You Know?
Trace nonpareil back to its Middle French origins and you’ll find that it comes from a term meaning “not equal.” Pareil itself comes from the Latin word par, which means “equal,” and non- is a common prefix meaning “not.” In addition to its adjectival use, nonpareil also functions as a noun referring to an individual of unequaled excellence (as in “the nonpareil of cellists”) as well as to a chocolate candy disk covered with small sugar pellets. A full exploration of the word’s history, and its current functions in French, can be found here.
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