paradigm
n.-
1 a way of thinking (n.) C1 Advanced Academica set of ideas or a way of looking at the world that influences how people do things.
a conceptual framework or world view that shapes the theories and methods of a particular discipline.
ExampleThe discovery of DNA created a new paradigm in the field of biology.
ExampleThe shift toward renewable energy represents a fundamental paradigm change in how industrial societies perceive resource consumption and environmental responsibility.
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2 a perfect example (n.) C1 Advanced Formala very clear or typical example of something.
a prototypical example or model that serves as a standard for a specific category.
ExampleThe company is often seen as the paradigm of modern successful business.
ExampleHis early architectural works are frequently cited as the paradigm of minimalist design, influencing a generation of urban planners.
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3 word forms (n.) C2 Proficiency Technical Linguisticsa list of all the different forms of a word, such as 'walk', 'walks', and 'walking'.
the complete set of related inflectional forms of a lexeme, typically presented in a table.
ExampleThe teacher asked us to write out the full paradigm for the Latin verb.
ExampleIn highly inflected languages, a single noun paradigm may include dozens of distinct forms to indicate case, number, and gender.
UsageUsually refers to a table or list of grammatical forms.
- inflection
- conjugation
- declension
From Middle English paradygme, from Late Latin paradīgma, from Ancient Greek παράδειγμα (parádeigma, “pattern”), from παραδείκνυμι (paradeíknumi, “I show [beside] or compare”) + -μα (-ma, suffix forming nouns concerning the results of actions). Doublet of paradigma.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated June 20, 2026