Definition
Paramount means above all others — supreme in rank or importance. From the Anglo-French par amont, 'by the top', it once named a feudal overlord, the lord above every other lord. Today it elevates whatever it touches: when safety is paramount, every other concern bows to it. Unlike merely 'important', paramount admits no rival — it marks the single consideration that, in the end, outranks all the rest. It is the most pivotal factor of all.
Examples
- In any rescue operation, the safety of the crew is paramount.
- She argued that access to clean water is of paramount importance.
- For the committee one principle was paramount, and its influence on every later decision was profound.
Collocations
of paramount importance·safety is paramount·a paramount concern·remain paramount
Synonyms
supreme·foremost·pivotal·overriding·preeminent
Antonyms
trivial·secondary·negligible
Word family
paramountcy (noun)
In TOEFL & IELTS
A formal, high-band word. The fixed phrase 'of paramount importance' is a polished upgrade over 'very important' in IELTS Writing Task 2, and 'safety/quality is paramount' appears across TOEFL passages on policy and engineering. Use it for the single most important thing, not just any priority — paramount allows no equal. Keep it as a stronger cousin of 'pivotal' and 'crucial'.