Adjective: paramount 'per-u,mawnt [N. Amer], 'pa-ru,mawnt [Brit]
- Of greatest importance
"commitment to a peaceful electoral process remains paramount";
- imperative
- Having superior power and influence
"the paramount mood among policy-makers is optimism";
- overriding, predominant, predominate, preponderant, preponderating
See also: crucial, dominant, important
Encyclopedia: Paramount, California