A Paradox Is a Statement That Argues With Itself
A paradox is a statement that seems to contradict itself yet may be true. The Greek means contrary to expectation.
A paradox is a statement or situation that contradicts itself and still resists dismissal. The Greek *paradoxos* means contrary to expectation, from *para*, beyond, and *doxa*, opinion. The classic example is the liar's paradox: *this sentence is false*, which cannot be true and cannot be false.
- A self-contradictory statement that may be true. *A paradox of modern life.*
- A situation with contradictory features. *The paradox of choice.*
- A logical contradiction. *Russell's paradox.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | paradox | An apparent paradox. |
| Plural | paradoxes | Ancient paradoxes. |
| Adjective | paradoxical | A paradoxical result. |
| Adverb | paradoxically | Paradoxically, it helped. |
| Related | oxymoron | A deafening silence. |
How it is used in a sentence
- It is a paradox that more choice can mean less satisfaction.A well-known finding in psychology.
- Paradoxically, cutting the speed limit sped up the traffic.Counterintuitive results.
- The grandfather paradox troubles every time-travel story.Going back and preventing your own existence.
Famous paradoxes
- Liar's paradox — this sentence is false
- Ship of Theseus — replace every plank; is it the same ship?
- Zeno's paradoxes — motion apparently made impossible by infinite division
- Sorites — when does removing one grain stop it being a heap?
- Grandfather paradox — the time-travel classic
From Greek *paradoxon*, from *para*, beyond, and *doxa*, opinion. The same *doxa* gives *orthodox*, right opinion, and *heterodox*, other opinion.
Paradox or oxymoron?
An oxymoron is two contradictory words together, like bittersweet. A paradox is a whole statement or situation that contradicts itself.
Are all paradoxes false?
No. Many are apparent contradictions that dissolve on inspection, and some reveal genuine gaps in a theory.