par ‧ a ‧ dox /ˈpærədɒks $ -dɑːks/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: paradoxum , from Greek , from paradoxis 'opposite to what is expected' ]
1 . [countable] a situation that seems strange because it involves two ideas or qualities that are very different:
It’s a paradox that in such a rich country there can be so much poverty.
2 . [countable] a statement that seems impossible because it contains two opposing ideas that are both true:
The paradox is that fishermen would catch more fish if they fished less.
3 . [uncountable] the use of statements that are a paradox in writing or speech
—paradoxical /ˌpærəˈdɒksɪk ə l◂ $ -ˈdɑːk-/ adjective