paradox
n. countablen. a situation or statement that seems impossible because it contains two opposite facts. You might call something a paradox if it sounds completely wrong at first, but actually turns out to be true.
n. a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that, when investigated, may prove to be well-founded or true. It frequently describes a situation, person, or thing that combines contradictory features.
It is a paradox that computers need maintenance to save us time.
The paradox of modern technology is that it connects us globally while often isolating us from our immediate neighbours.
The philosopher spent his career exploring the liar paradox, demonstrating how self-referential statements can fundamentally break the formal systems designed to contain them.
From Middle French paradoxe, from Latin paradoxum, from Ancient Greek παράδοξος (parádoxos, “unexpected, strange”).
Often followed by a 'that' clause to introduce the contradiction, or paired with 'of' to specify the subject.