Words / C2

PAR-uh-g-uh-n/ˈpærəɡən/

A paragon is a person or thing that is a perfect example of a quality: a paragon of patience. Model is everyday; epitome is a close synonym; ideal can be abstract. Paragon of + quality is the pattern. In speech, a perfect example is enough. Slightly literary, and easy to overpraise — a paragon in one virtue can still fail in another. It is not a synonym for saint unless you mean moral perfection.

Meaning

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

Examples

• “She is a paragon of patience in class.”
• “She is a paragon of patience in class and a terror in the staff email thread.”
• “Treat the sample essay as a paragon of structure, not of originality.”

Good to know

paragon of + quality. A perfect model. Everyday: perfect example. Close: epitome. Literary; one virtue, not a whole halo.

Near in meaning

epitome

New