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Paragon Has Old Italian and Greek Roots
Paragon derives from the Old Italian word paragone, which literally means "touchstone." A touchstone is a black stone that was formerly used to judge the purity of gold or silver. The metal was rubbed on the stone and the color of the streak it left indicated its quality. In modern English, both touchstone and paragon have come to signify a standard against which something should be judged. Ultimately, paragon comes from the Greek parakonan, meaning "to sharpen," from the prefix para- ("alongside of") and akonē, meaning "whetstone."
Examples of paragon in a Sentence
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
The agencies then market the idols as paragons of innocence to a mostly male, older fanbase that prizes their looks, perceived purity and emotional accessibility over their limited skill as pop performers.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
The Trump administration has hailed Poland as a paragon of self-sufficiency.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
Wait, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau — a paragon of fire and intensity on the sideline — has never been ejected?
—Chris Branch, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for paragon
Cite this Entry
“Paragon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paragon. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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