Paradigm
A paradigm is a typical example or pattern that serves as a model or framework for thinking, research, or practice.
nounParadigm
A paradigm is a typical example or pattern that serves as a model or framework for thinking, research, or practice.
nounImagine This
Imagine a science class where a professor unfurls a giant blueprint labeled 'Paradigm: The Standard Way We Understand X.' As new findings appear, students debate whether they fit the blueprint or require a shift to a new paradigm.
Sounds Like
PAIR-uh-DIH-guhm
Looks Like
diagram (shares the -gram ending) and the prefix para-
Remember This
The term 'paradigm shift' was popularized by Thomas Kuhn in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962) to describe a fundamental change in the basic concepts and practices of a science. Paradigms are broader than a single theory—they define the entire framework used to interpret phenomena.
Other Forms
Connect With
model, framework, template, archetype, paradigm shift
Note
Paradigm refers to a broad framework or pattern, not a single fact. Plural: paradigms. Common confusion with 'parade' or 'paradise' should be avoided; remember the -digm/-gram root relates to pattern or diagram.