First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
paradigm
noun par·a·digm \ˈper-ə-ˌdīm, ˈpa-rə- also -ˌdim\
: a model or pattern for something that may be copied
: a theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done, made, or thought about
Full Definition of PARADIGM
2
: an example of a conjugation or declension showing a word in all its inflectional forms
3
: a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated; broadly : a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind
— par·a·dig·mat·ic \ˌper-ə-dig-ˈma-tik, ˌpa-rə-\ adjective
— par·a·dig·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Examples of PARADIGM
- And the paradigm of a thing to be philosophical about is death. —Jim Holt, New York Times Book Review, 15 Feb. 2009
- Such problems drive home a critical flaw in the paradigm of energy independence—namely, that energy isn't a zero-sum game anymore. —Paul Roberts, Mother Jones, May/June 2008
- That the biomedical paradigm of single cause and single disease was a chimera was well understood by even its most vigorous advocates. —Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century, 2007
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Origin of PARADIGM
Late Latin paradigma, from Greek paradeigma, from paradeiknynai to show side by side, from para- + deiknynai to show — more at diction
Other Philosophy Terms
Rhymes with PARADIGM
access time, aftertime, anytime, beforetime, Bettelheim, borrowed time, central time, Christmastime, common time, dinnertime, double prime, double-time, drop a dime, eastern time, elapsed time, Father Time, harvesttime, Hildesheim, in jig time, just-in-time, Kaffir lime, lemon thyme, local time, lysozyme, Mannerheim, maritime, monorhyme, mountain time, nursery rhyme, on a dime, overtime, pantomime, Pappenheim, question time, released time, running time, soda lime, standard time, summertime, take one's time, vowel rhyme, wintertime
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