Words That Start With Par And How To Use Them
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50 Common Words That Start With Par
The prefix “par” appears in dozens of English words, drawn from Latin roots meaning “equal” (par) and “beside” or “beyond” (para). Understanding these roots unlocks the meaning of many words at once. Below are 50 common words organized by their etymological origin.
Words From “Par” (Equal, On a Level)
The Latin root par means “equal.” Words from this root relate to equality, comparison, or standard measures:
| Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Par | An equal level; the standard score in golf | Her performance was on par with the best in the industry. |
| Parity | The state of being equal or equivalent | The company achieved pay parity across all departments. |
| Pair | Two matching or corresponding items | She bought a new pair of running shoes. |
| Pare | To peel or trim; to reduce gradually | He used a knife to pare the apple skin. |
| Compare | To examine similarities and differences | Let us compare the two proposals side by side. |
| Comparable | Of equal quality or similar nature | The two products offer comparable features at different prices. |
| Disparate | Fundamentally different; not comparable | The researchers studied disparate populations across three continents. |
| Disparity | A great difference or inequality | Income disparity between regions continues to grow. |
Words From “Para” (Beside, Beyond, Against)
The Greek prefix para means “beside,” “beyond,” or “against.” It appears in words that describe things alongside, outside of, or protecting against something:
| Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Paragraph | A distinct section of writing on one topic | Start a new paragraph when you introduce a new idea. |
| Paraphrase | To restate text in different words | She was asked to paraphrase the author’s main argument. |
| Parallel | Side by side and equidistant; similar in nature | The two roads run parallel to each other for thirty miles. |
| Paradox | A statement that contradicts itself but contains truth | The paradox of choice is that more options can lead to less satisfaction. |
| Paradise | An ideal or perfect place; heaven | The tropical island felt like paradise after months of winter. |
| Parasite | An organism that lives on or in a host at the host’s expense | The parasite was discovered during a routine blood test. |
| Parachute | A device that slows descent through air | The skydiver deployed her parachute at 3,000 feet. |
| Paramedic | A trained emergency medical professional | The paramedic arrived within five minutes of the call. |
| Paranormal | Beyond the range of normal scientific explanation | The team investigated paranormal activity at the old house. |
| Paranoid | Irrationally suspicious or distrustful | He became paranoid about sharing personal information online. |
Other Common Words Starting With Par
Many “par” words come from various other etymological sources:
| Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Part | A piece or segment of a whole | Only a small part of the original building remains. |
| Partial | Incomplete; showing bias toward one side | The judge was accused of being partial to the defense. |
| Participate | To take part in an activity | All students are encouraged to participate in the discussion. |
| Particular | Specific; individual; detailed | She paid particular attention to the final chapter. |
| Partition | A dividing wall or structure; to divide | A glass partition separated the two office areas. |
| Partner | A person who shares an activity or business | He found a reliable business partner for the venture. |
| Party | A social gathering; a group with shared goals | Both parties agreed to the terms of the contract. |
| Parse | To analyze grammatically; to break down | The programmer had to parse the XML data into a usable format. |
| Pardon | Forgiveness; an official release from punishment | The governor granted a pardon to the wrongly convicted man. |
| Parent | A mother or father; an ancestor or source | Every parent wants the best education for their child. |
| Park | A public green space; to leave a vehicle in a spot | They walked through the park every morning before work. |
| Parliament | A legislative body of government | Parliament voted to approve the new education bill. |
| Parcel | A package or bundle; a piece of land | The parcel arrived three days earlier than expected. |
| Parch | To make extremely dry; to scorch with heat | The summer sun parched the fields by mid-July. |
| Parody | A humorous imitation of a serious work | The sketch was a clever parody of the original film. |
| Parish | A local church community; an administrative district | The parish organized a fundraiser for the new school building. |
| Parley | A discussion or negotiation between opposing sides | The two generals met for a parley before the battle. |
| Parlor | A sitting room; a shop offering a particular service | They sat in the parlor drinking tea and reading. |
| Partisan | A strong supporter of a party or cause; biased | The debate quickly became partisan and unproductive. |
| Parade | A public procession celebrating an occasion | Thousands lined the streets for the annual parade. |
| Paramount | Of supreme importance; above all others | Student safety is of paramount importance. |
| Parrot | A tropical bird; to repeat mindlessly | Do not just parrot the textbook — express it in your own words. |
Building vocabulary is easier with the right tools. Use the BeLikeNative Paraphrasing Tool to practice expressing the same idea in multiple ways. The Grammar Checker ensures you use each word correctly in context, and the Text Simplifier can help break down complex definitions into plain language.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the root word “par”?
The root par comes from Latin and means “equal” or “on a level with.” It forms the basis of words like parity (equality), compare (examine for similarities), and disparate (fundamentally different). In golf, “par” refers to the standard number of strokes for a hole — the level you are expected to achieve. The related Greek prefix para means “beside” or “beyond” and appears in words like parallel (side by side), paragraph (a section written beside other sections), and paradox (beyond normal logic).
How many English words start with “par”?
Depending on the dictionary, there are between 800 and 1,200 English words that begin with “par.” This includes common everyday words like park, part, and parent as well as specialized terms like parenchyma (biology), parallax (astronomy), and parsimonious (economics). The high count reflects the fact that “par” draws from multiple language roots — Latin par (equal), Greek para (beside), and Old French parc (enclosure) — each contributing dozens of derivatives.
What are the most useful “par” words for academic writing?
The most frequently used “par” words in academic writing include: paragraph, paraphrase, parallel, paradox, parameter, paradigm, particular, participate, partial, and partition. Among these, “paraphrase” and “paradigm” are especially important — paraphrasing is a core academic skill, and paradigm appears regularly in research methodology discussions. Mastering these words will significantly strengthen your formal writing.
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