paradox
nounmasculine/pɐɾɐˈdɔʃu/medium
pa·ra·do·xo
Definition
A statement or situation that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.
The paradox of free time states that the more free time we have, the less productive we are.
It's a paradox that the world's richest person is also one of the most frugal.
Common collocations
logical paradoxtemporal paradoxsolve a paradoxfall into a paradox
Idiomatic expressions
- Grandfather paradox (theoretical impossibility of time travel to prevent one's own grandfather's birth).
- Liar paradox (the statement "this sentence is false" which cannot be consistently classified as true or false).
Etymology
Do latim 'paradoxum', por sua vez do grego 'parádoxon' (contrário à opinião comum).