paradigm

[ par-uh-dahym, -dim ]
See synonyms for: paradigmparadigms on Thesaurus.com

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

    • such a cognitive framework shared by members of any discipline or group: The company’s business paradigm needs updating for a new generation.

  1. Informal. a general mental model or framework for anything: Their first album completely blew apart my paradigm for what rock music could be.

  1. an example serving as a model for others to imitate; pattern: Pelham Dairy’s 10-year aged cheddar is the paradigm of cheddars.

  2. a typical or representative instance or example: His experimentalism and iconoclastic attitude towards the past make Picasso a paradigm of 20th century painting.

  3. Grammar.

    • 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.

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

Origin of paradigm

1
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

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British Dictionary definitions for paradigm

paradigm

/ (ˈpærəˌdaɪm) /


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

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

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

Origin of paradigm

1
C15: via French and Latin from Greek paradeigma pattern, from paradeiknunai to compare, from para- 1 + deiknunai to show

Derived forms of paradigm

  • paradigmatic (ˌpærədɪɡˈmætɪk), adjective

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