Word

paradox

noun B2

UK /ˈpæ.ɹəˌdɒks/

US /ˈpæɹ.əˌdɑks/

Meanings

noun

a statement that seems self-contradictory but may express a truth

noun

a situation that contains two opposite features and seems strange or unexpected

Definition

A paradox is a statement or situation that seems contradictory but may still be true or make sense.

A paradox is something that appears to be impossible or self-contradictory at first glance. When you think more carefully, it can reveal a deeper truth or a surprising point. Paradoxes are common in philosophy, logic, literature, and everyday life.

Examples

It’s a paradox that the more choices we have, the less satisfied we feel.
The book opens with a paradox that makes you rethink what freedom means.
Her success was a paradox: she worked less but achieved more.
The policy created a paradox by raising costs while promising savings.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes use paradox to mean simply a problem or mystery, but it specifically involves something that seems contradictory.