a body or substance that, placed in a magnetic field, possesses magnetization in direct proportion to the field strength; a substance in which the magnetic moments of the atoms are not aligned.
par·a·mag·net·ic (pār'ə-māg-nět'ĭk) adj. Relating to or being a substance in which an induced magnetic field is parallel and proportional to the intensity of the magnetizing field but is much weaker than in ferromagnetic materials. par'a·mag·net'i·cal·ly adv., par'a·mag'net·ism (-māg'nĭ-tĭz'əm) n.