paradigm

American  

[par-uh-dahym, -dim] / ˈpær əˌdaɪm, -dɪm /

noun

paradigms plural

1. 1. a framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of a scientific community.

   2. such a cognitive framework shared by members of any discipline or group.

      The company’s business paradigm needs updating for a new generation.

2. Informal. a general mental model or framework for anything.

   Their first album completely blew apart my paradigm for what rock music could be.

3. an example serving as a model for others to imitate; pattern.

   Pelham Dairy’s 10-year aged cheddar is the paradigm of cheddars.

   Synonyms:

   touchstone, paragon, ideal, standard, mold

4. a typical or representative instance or example.

   His experimentalism and iconoclastic attitude towards the past make Picasso a paradigm of 20th century painting.

5. Grammar.

   1. a set of forms all of which contain a particular element, especially the set of all inflected forms based on a single stem or theme.

   2. a display in fixed arrangement of such a set, as boy, boy's, boys, boys'.

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paradigm British  

/ ˈpærəˌdaɪm, ˌpærədɪɡˈmætɪk /

noun

1. grammar the set of all the inflected forms of a word or a systematic arrangement displaying these forms

2. a pattern or model

3. a typical or stereotypical example (esp in the phrase paradigm case )

4. (in the philosophy of science) a very general conception of the nature of scientific endeavour within which a given enquiry is undertaken

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• paradigmatic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• paradigms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of paradigm

First recorded in 1475–85; from Late Latin paradigma “example,” from Greek parádeigma “pattern, model, precedent, example” (derivative of paradeiknýnai “to show side by side, compare”), equivalent to para- preposition and prefix + deik-, root of deiknýnai “to show, bring to light, prove” + -ma noun suffix denoting the result of an action; see para- ¹, deictic

Explanation

A paradigm is a standard, perspective, or set of ideas. A paradigm is a way of looking at something. The word paradigm comes up a lot in the academic, scientific, and business worlds. A new paradigm in business could mean a new way of reaching customers and making money. In education, relying on lectures is a paradigm: if you suddenly shifted to all group work, that would be a new paradigm. When you change paradigms, you're changing how you think about something.

Example Sentences

At the center of the comparison is the prediction paradigm, one of the dominant theories in modern neuroscience.

From Science Daily • Jul. 1, 2026

“We view AI and new paradigm shifts like it as opportunities to build great, new product experiences that haven’t been developed before,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2026

“This was a paradigm paper for a whole generation of university students and grad students,” said Franta, who was also taught the “Wedges” paper as a graduate student at Harvard.

From Salon • Jun. 26, 2026

"So we're getting rid of that variability by making something that's across the board recognisable by your immune system that should cover you from all these eventualities ... a real big paradigm change," he said.

From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026

If you were more than a few years out of college in 1975, then you belonged to the old paradigm.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell