paradox

[ par-uh-doks ]

noun

1. a statement that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth:

   “Less is more” is a paradox often repeated in the arts and other fields.

   It is a paradox of healthy grief that we must work at it while surrendering to it.

2. any person, thing, or situation displaying an apparently contradictory nature:

   In the media the candidate was called a paradox—an unpopular populist.

   Synonyms: riddle, anomaly, puzzle

3. a self-contradictory and false statement, especially one arising from seemingly acceptable premises and correct logical argument.
4. time paradox ( def 1 ).
5. Also called par·a·dox il·lu·sion [par, -, uh, -doks i-loo-zh, uh, n]. an optical illusion depicting an impossible object, often a two-dimensional figure that the viewer intuitively interprets as representing a three-dimensional one, but which cannot actually exist in three dimensions: brought to popular attention especially by the work of M. C. Escher.
6. Archaic. an opinion or statement contrary to commonly accepted opinion.

paradox

/ ˈpærəˌdɒks /

noun

1. a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement that is or may be true

   religious truths are often expressed in paradox

2. a self-contradictory proposition, such as I always tell lies
3. a person or thing exhibiting apparently contradictory characteristics
4. an opinion that conflicts with common belief

paradox

1. A statement that seems contradictory or absurd but is actually valid or true. According to one proverbial paradox, we must sometimes be cruel in order to be kind. Another form of paradox is a statement that truly is contradictory and yet follows logically from other statements that do not seem open to objection. If someone says, “I am lying,” for example, and we assume that his statement is true, it must be false. The paradox is that the statement “I am lying” is false if it is true.

Derived Forms

• ˌparaˈdoxical, adjective
• ˌparaˈdoxically, adverb

Other Words From

• par·a·dox·i·cal par·a·dox·al adjective
• par·a·dox·ol·o·gy [par-, uh, -dok-, sol, -, uh, -jee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of paradox¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Middle French paradoxe, from Latin paradoxum, from Greek parádoxon, noun use of neuter of parádoxos “contrary to expectation, unbelievable, beyond belief”; para- ¹( def ), orthodox ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of paradox¹

C16: from Late Latin paradoxum, from Greek paradoxos opposed to existing notions, from para- ¹+ doxa opinion

Example Sentences

But from what I can make of it so far, it seems to be the ultimate paradox: the world simultaneously contracted to its most intimate, atomic form, and the explosion of an entirely new universe.

From Los Angeles Times

What a paradox: This city, and the feds, are now trying with might and main to find housing for its veterans — in effect to re-create a barracks that thousands of veterans had called home.

From Los Angeles Times

I was really inspired by the concept of surveillance, as well as the idea of being perceived and how we grapple with the contradictions and paradoxes of that, which is very “Quantum Baby”-esque.

From Los Angeles Times

This paradox, known as "neuronal degeneration," has intrigued scientists for decades.

From Science Daily

Cold Spring Harbor neuroscientists have devised a potential explanation for this age-old paradox.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• absurdity
• ambiguity
• anomaly
• enigma
• inconsistency
• mystery
• oddity