paramount

/ˈpærəˌmaʊnt/ formal

Say it: PAR-uh-mount

adjective More important than anything else; supreme in rank, power, or significance.
In any crisis, the safety of the public is of paramount importance.

📖 Seen in the wild

In a democracy, the will of the people is paramount.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ paramount in a sentence

The client's satisfaction is paramount to our company's success.
During the wildfire evacuation, maintaining clear communication routes was the paramount objective.
She argued that the child's welfare should be the paramount consideration in any custody dispute.
For the investigative journalist, protecting her sources was paramount.
It is paramount that we find a solution before the deadline.
While we want to innovate quickly, ethical standards remain paramount.
The needs of the team are paramount; individual ambitions come second.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

supreme foremost chief overriding principal preeminent vital crucial

supreme · implies the single highest authority or quality, often in an official or absolute sense.

foremost · suggests being first in rank or position, often through achievement or recognition.

chief · points to the primary or main element among several, such as the 'chief reason'.

overriding · emphasizes that something is more important and therefore cancels out other considerations.

Opposites: secondary, subordinate, trivial, minor, unimportant

🌱 Where it comes from

Paramount literally means 'above the mountain.' It entered English from Anglo-Norman French, combining 'par' (by or through) and 'amont' (above or upward), which itself comes from the Latin 'ad montem' (to the mountain). Its original use was to describe a feudal lord who was superior to other lords, and it has retained this sense of ultimate superiority.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

of paramount importanceparamount concernparamount dutyparamount considerationremains paramount

'Paramount' is a strong, definitive word used to emphasize that something is more important than all other considerations. It is most frequently found in the set phrase 'of paramount importance.' Using it for everyday matters can sound overly dramatic, so it is best reserved for situations where the stakes are genuinely high.

Word family: paramountcy

💬 Quick answers

What does paramount mean?

It means something is more important than anything else. It is supreme or chief in importance, rank, or power.

What's the difference between paramount and important?

While 'important' means something has significance, 'paramount' means it has the greatest possible significance. If a concern is paramount, it outweighs all other important concerns.

Is paramount a formal word?

Yes, 'paramount' is a formal word. It is most appropriate in professional, legal, or other serious contexts rather than in casual conversation.

Where does the word paramount come from?

It comes from an Anglo-Norman French phrase meaning 'above the mountain,' which perfectly captures its sense of being at the very top or supreme.

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