nonpareil Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
nonesuch; nonsuch; paragon; apotheosis; ideal; saint.
noun colored beads of sugar used as a topping on e.g. candies and cookies
noun a flat disk of chocolate covered with beads of colored sugar
adjective satellite eminent beyond or above comparison
unrivaled; unrivalled; one and only; peerless; unmatched; one; matchless; unmatchable.
- matchless beauty
- the team's nonpareil center fielder
- she's one girl in a million
- the one and only Muhammad Ali
- a peerless scholar
- infamy unmatched in the Western world
- wrote with unmatchable clarity
- unrivaled mastery of her art

See Nonpareil, a.

Something of unequaled excellence; a peerless thing or person; a nonesuch; -- often used as a name.
F. nonpareille. (Print.) A size of type next smaller than minion and next larger than agate (or ruby). ✍ This line is printed in the type called nonpareil.
(Zoöl.) (a) A beautifully colored finch (Passerina ciris), native of the Southern United States. The male has the head and neck deep blue, rump and under parts bright red, back and wings golden green, and the tail bluish purple. Called also painted finch. (b) Any other similar bird of the same genus.

F., from non not + pareil equal, fr. LL. pariculus, dim. of L. par equal. See Non, and Pair, Peer.