paradox
- A statement or situation that seems self-contradictory or absurd but may reveal a deeper truth on closer examination.
- A person or thing that combines contradictory features or qualities.
In a sentence
- It is a paradox that standing still in an airport moving walkway means you are still moving forward.
- She was a paradox: deeply private yet performing on stage every night.
Usage note. A true paradox is not simply a contradiction—it contains a tension that, when resolved, reveals something insightful; do not use it loosely as a synonym for 'irony'.
Where it comes from
English paradox · entered English 16th c.
From Latin 'paradoxum' and Greek 'paradoxon', meaning 'contrary to expectation', composed of 'para-' (beyond, contrary to) and 'doxa' (opinion or belief). It entered English in the 16th century.