English · Word Candidate

paradigm

/ˈpæɹ.ə.daɪm/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: paradigms · paradigmata

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A pattern, a way of doing something; especially a pattern of thought, a system of beliefs, a conceptual framework.

Noun

Near-synonyms: style, model, worldview

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

An example serving as the model for such a pattern; an exceptionally good or prototypical example of a pattern or group.

Noun

Near-synonyms: template, exemplar, archetype, poster child; see also Thesaurus:exemplar, Thesaurus:model

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “paradigm” mean?

A pattern, a way of doing something; especially a pattern of thought, a system of beliefs, a conceptual framework.

Is “paradigm” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.