aporia

[ uh-pawr-ee-uh, uh-pohr- ]

noun,plural a·po·ri·as, a·po·ri·ae

[uh-pawr-ee-ee, uh-pohr-]. /əˈpɔr iˌi, əˈpoʊr-/.

Rhetoric. the expression of a simulated or real doubt, as about where to begin or what to do or say.
Logic, Philosophy. a difficulty encountered in establishing the theoretical truth of a proposition, created by the presence of evidence both for and against it.

Origin of aporia

1580–90; <Late Latin <Greek: state of being at a loss, equivalent to ápor(os) impassable (see a-⁶, pore²) + -ia-ia

Words Nearby aporia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use aporia in a sentence

Often Socratic conversation induces utter confusion—the ancient Greek word is aporia—and ends with no clear solution to a problem.
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British Dictionary definitions for aporia

aporia

/ (əˈpɔːrɪə) /

noun

rhetoric a doubt, real or professed, about what to do or say
philosophy puzzlement occasioned by the raising of philosophical objections without any proffered solutions, esp in the works of Socrates

Origin of aporia

C16: from Greek, literally: a state of being at a loss

Derived forms of aporia

aporetic (ˌæpəˈrɛtɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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