paradox

/ˈpæ.ɹəˌdɒks/

//ˈpæ.ɹəˌdɒks// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"paradox" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“paradox” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #12,471. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#12,471
frequency rank, English
4,417
“P” headwords
10
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - An apparently self-contradictory statement, which can only be true if it is false, and vice versa.

Corpus desk

Index EN-paradox · paradox · English

paradox · rank #12,471 · 10 variants · 6 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #12,471
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-MID 6 pairs
  • VAR-MID 10 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,417
  • PHOTO-FINISH Owens

Nearest frequency peer: Owens (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “paradox”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “paradox” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

paradox vs Prado
57% similar
paradox vs pardon
71% similar
paradox vs paragon
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for paradox
PropertyValue
Headwordparadox
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpæ.ɹəˌdɒks/
Letters7
Frequency rank#12,471
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “paradox”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).paradoxlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “Owens” (#12,470), “peacefully” (#12,472), “periodic” (#12,473). Among 4,417 “P” headwords, “paradox” is #12,471. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around paradox (IPA /ˈpæ.ɹəˌdɒks/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #12,471 among 4,417 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 10 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for paradox, with forms such as "apradox", "paardox", and "paraddox". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 6 confusable-pair relationships, "Prado", "pardon", "paragon", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French paradoxe, from Latin paradoxum, from Ancient Greek παράδοξος (parádoxos, “unexpected, strange”). The correct English form is paradox, spelled P-A-R-A-D-O-X.

Definition

  1. 1
    An apparently self-contradictory statement, which can only be true if it is false, and vice versa.
  2. 2
    A counterintuitive conclusion or outcome.
  3. 3
    A claim that two apparently contradictory ideas are true.
  4. 4
    A thing involving contradictory yet interrelated elements that exist simultaneously and persist over time.
  5. 5
    A person or thing having contradictory properties.
  6. 6
    An unanswerable question or difficult puzzle, particularly one which leads to a deeper truth.
  7. 7
    A statement which is difficult to believe, or which goes against general belief.
  8. 8
    The use of counterintuitive or contradictory statements (paradoxes) in speech or writing.
  9. 9
    A state in which one is logically compelled to contradict oneself.
  10. 10
    The practice of giving instructions that are opposed to the therapist's actual intent, with the intention that the client will disobey or be unable to obey.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how paradox appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. "This sentence is false" is a paradox.
  2. The active sense of living which we all enjoy, before reflection shatters our instinctive world for us, is self-luminous and suggests no paradoxes.

Etymology

From Middle French paradoxe, from Latin paradoxum, from Ancient Greek παράδοξος (parádoxos, “unexpected, strange”).

Synonyms

shockerjuxtapositioncontradictionpuzzlequandaryriddleenigmakoanreverse psychology

This word in other languages

paradoja(Español)paradoxe(Français)Paradoxon(Deutsch)paradoxo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • apradox
  • paardox
  • paraddox
  • paradoxx
  • paradxo
  • paraodx
  • pardaox
  • parradox
  • pparadox
  • praadox

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of paradox - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

apradox2paardox2paraddox1paradoxx1paradxo2paraodx2pardaox2parradox1
Edit distance from "paradox"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "paradox"?
"paradox" is spelled P-A-R-A-D-O-X. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpæ.ɹəˌdɒks/.
What does "paradox" mean?
As a noun, "paradox" means: An apparently self-contradictory statement, which can only be true if it is false, and vice versa.
What words are commonly confused with "paradox"?
"paradox" is commonly confused with "Prado", "pardon", "paragon". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "paradox"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "paradox" is /ˈpæ.ɹəˌdɒks/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "paradox"?
From Middle French paradoxe, from Latin paradoxum, from Ancient Greek παράδοξος (parádoxos, “unexpected, strange”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "paradox", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

portray#12,477Pradesh#12,479morally#12,462leftist#12,456

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (10 here; floor ≥5).

refrain10 variantsstyled10 variantsguarded10 variantsturbine10 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list