paradigmatic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a paradigm.
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Linguistics. pertaining to a relationship among linguistic elements that can substitute for each other in a given context, as the relationship of sun in The sun is shining to other nouns, as moon, star, or light, that could substitute for it in that sentence, or of is shining to was shining, shone, will shine, etc., as well as to is rising, is setting, etc.
Other Word Forms
- paradigmatically adverb
Etymology
Origin of paradigmatic
1655–65; < Greek paradeigmatikós, equivalent to paradeigmat-, stem of parádeigma paradigm + -ikos -ic
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some works are paradigmatic, some rather generic; the inclusion of others is perplexing.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026
The board proved vulnerable to manipulation by Musk, "the paradigmatic 'Superstar CEO,'" wrote McCormick, who upheld her determination in December 2024 following an appeal.
From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025
The Rodney King case was a paradigmatic example.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 9, 2024
Paradigm shifts are comparatively rare, and only induced by repeated, persistent violations of the paradigmatic assumptions.
From Salon • Oct. 21, 2023
These two paradigmatic examples are the subjects I turn to now.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
