noun
paragon
PA-ruh-guhn
Paragon (noun) means a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a quality. Example: “She was held up as a paragon of patience.”
noun
1
A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a quality.
"She was held up as a paragon of patience."
"The old courthouse is a paragon of Victorian architecture."
How to use paragon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA perfect model or example of some quality, often virtue.
Common pairings
a paragon of virtue
paragon of excellence
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Word forms
- Plural
- paragons
- Third person singular
- paragons
- Past tense
- paragoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was held up as a _____ of patience.
Etymology
From Italian paragone, from paragonare ("to test against a touchstone"), from Greek roots meaning "to sharpen or whet" — the idea of testing something against a standard.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for paragon
wagon
dragon
Aragon
nonagon
octagon
heptagon
icosagon
pentagon
tarragon
dodecagon
bandwagon
pendragon
See all rhymes for paragon →
Frequently asked questions
What does “paragon” mean?
The word “paragon” means a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a quality. In plain terms, a perfect model or example of some quality, often virtue.
How do you pronounce “paragon”?
“Paragon” is pronounced PA-ruh-guhn (/ˈpæɹəˌɡɔn/ in IPA).
How do you use “paragon” in a sentence?
Here is “paragon” used in a sentence: “She was held up as a paragon of patience.”
What part of speech is “paragon”?
“Paragon” is a noun.
Where does the word “paragon” come from?
The word “paragon” comes from Italian. From Italian paragone, from paragonare ("to test against a touchstone"), from Greek roots meaning "to sharpen or whet" — the idea of testing something against a standard.
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