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Definition of Paradox - 9 dictionary results

par⋅a⋅dox

  [par-uh-doks]
Use Paradox in a Sentence
–noun
1. a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.
2. a self-contradictory and false proposition.
3. any person, thing, or situation exhibiting an apparently contradictory nature.
4. an opinion or statement contrary to commonly accepted opinion.
Origin:
1530–40; < L paradoxum < Gk parádoxon, n. use of neut. of parádoxos unbelievable, lit., beyond belief. See para- 1 , orthodox

Related forms:
par⋅a⋅dox⋅i⋅cal, par⋅a⋅dox⋅al, adjective
par⋅a⋅dox⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
par⋅a⋅dox⋅i⋅cal⋅ness, par⋅a⋅dox⋅i⋅cal⋅i⋅ty, noun
par⋅a⋅dox⋅ol⋅o⋅gy, noun

Synonyms:
3. puzzle, anomaly, riddle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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par·a·dox   (pār'ə-dŏks')   
n.  
  1. A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking.
  2. One exhibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects: "The silence of midnight, to speak truly, though apparently a paradox, rung in my ears" (Mary Shelley).
  3. An assertion that is essentially self-contradictory, though based on a valid deduction from acceptable premises.
  4. A statement contrary to received opinion.

[Latin paradoxum, from Greek paradoxon, from neuter sing. of paradoxos, conflicting with expectation : para-, beyond; see para-1 + doxa, opinion (from dokein, to think; see dek- in Indo-European roots).]
par'a·dox'i·cal adj., par'a·dox'i·cal·ly adv., par'a·dox'i·cal·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Paradox

Par`a*dox\, n.; pl. Paradoxes. [F. paradoxe, L. paradoxum, fr. Gr. ?; ? beside, beyond, contrary to + ? to think, suppose, imagine. See Para-, and Dogma.] A tenet or proposition contrary to received opinion; an assertion or sentiment seemingly contradictory, or opposed to common sense; that which in appearance or terms is absurd, but yet may be true in fact.

A gloss there is to color that paradox, and make it appear in show not to be altogether unreasonable. --Hooker.

This was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. --Shak.

Hydrostatic paradox. See under Hydrostatic.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Paradox
Spanish: paradoja,
German: das Paradox,
Japanese: 逆説
More Translations »

paradox

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.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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paradox 
1540, from L. paradoxum "paradox, statement seemingly absurd yet really true," from Gk. paradoxon, from neut. of adj. paradoxos "contrary to expectation, incredible," from para- "contrary to" + doxa "opinion."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: par·a·dox
Pronunciation: 'par-&-"däks
Function: noun
: an instance of a paradoxical phenomenon or reaction
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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paradox par·a·dox (pār'ə-dŏks')
n.
That which is apparently, though not actually, inconsistent with or opposed to the known facts in any case.

par'a·dox'i·cal adj.
par'a·dox'i·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Paradox database
A relational database for Microsoft Windows, originally from Borland.
Paradox 5 ran on Microsoft Windows [version?] and provided a graphical environment, a debugger, a data modelling tool, and many "ObjectPAL" commands.
Paradox 7 ran under Windows 95 and Windows NT.
Latest version: Paradox 9, as of 2000-02-10 (a Corel product).
(http://corel.com/paradox9/index.htm).
[Update?]
(1996-05-27)

paradox logic
An apparently sound argument leading to a contradiction.
Some famous examples are Russell's paradox and the liar paradox. Most paradoxes stem from some kind of self-reference.
Smarandache Linguistic Paradox.
(1999-11-05)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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