paralysis

American  

[puh-ral-uh-sis] / pəˈræl ə sɪs /

noun

paralyses plural

1. Pathology.

   1. a loss or impairment of voluntary movement in a body part, caused by injury or disease of the nerves, brain, or spinal cord.

   2. a disease characterized by this, especially palsy.

2. a state of helpless stoppage, inactivity, or inability to act.

   The strike caused a paralysis of all shipping.

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paralysis British  

/ pəˈrælɪsɪs /

noun

1. pathol

   1. impairment or loss of voluntary muscle function or of sensation ( sensory paralysis ) in a part or area of the body, usually caused by a lesion or disorder of the muscles or the nerves supplying them

   2. a disease characterized by such impairment or loss; palsy

2. cessation or impairment of activity

   paralysis of industry by strikes

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paralysis Scientific  

/ pə-răl′ĭ-sĭs /

1. Loss or impairment of voluntary movement or sensation in a part of the body, usually as a result of neurologic injury or disease.

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paralysis Cultural  

1. The loss of voluntary movement in a body part. Paralysis results from damage to the nerves that supply the affected part of the body.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonparalysis
  noun
• semiparalysis
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• paralyses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of paralysis

before 1150; < Latin < Greek parálysis, equivalent to paraly-, var stem of paralȳ́ein to loosen (i.e., disable) on one side ( para- para- ¹ + lȳ́ein to loosen) + -sis -sis; replacing Middle English paralisi ( e ) < Old French < Latin, as above; replacing late Old English paralisin (accusative) < Latin, as above; cf. palsy ¹

Compare meaning

How does paralysis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• paresis vs. paralysis

Explanation

Paralysis is the inability to move part of your body. It's actually fairly common for people to have short periods of paralysis while they sleep. Paralysis is the experience of being paralyzed, or unable to move part or all of your body. There are medical conditions that can cause paralysis. You can also use paralysis to describe the inability to act, like the paralysis of a city during a big snowstorm, or the paralysis of the school play's star, suddenly struck with stage fright.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

paralysis paralyses

"I think it was a response to a feeling of helplessness in this moment in time that can lead to paralysis," says Gavin.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Some individuals experience relatively mild symptoms for many years, while others develop serious disability and paralysis at a young age.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 29, 2026

Climate progress was in a state of paralysis.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

Symptoms can include fever, rash, facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat and arthritis, according to the CDC.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

Indeed, anyone proposing such a course must come under suspicion as a devotee of paralysis.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

He says there are visible signs that the disease paralyses the sea urchin's spines and tiny feet.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2023

Sometimes these compounds act as deterrents: nicotine, for example, is produced by some plants and paralyses insects, whereas caffeine suppresses their appetite.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 24, 2020

Nothing proved more vividly the maxim that technology renders civilisation fragile than the great traffic paralyses of the late seventies.

From Slate ● Apr. 29, 2019

Asked if she feared for her life, she said: “No. Fear paralyses people. And if you want changes, you should overcome yourself.”

From Reuters ● Aug. 16, 2018

In itself and of itself, fear is not religious; it paralyses, crushes, stuns.

From Outlines of a Philosophy of Religion based on Psychology and History by Sabatier, Auguste

Related Words

• apathy
• laziness
• passivity
• sluggishness