/ ˈpærədɒks; NAmE -dɑːks/ noun
1.
[ C ] a person, thing or situation that has two opposite features and therefore seems strange :
He was a paradox—a loner who loved to chat to strangers.
It is a curious paradox that professional comedians often have unhappy personal lives.
2.
[ C , U ] a statement containing two opposite ideas that make it seem impossible or unlikely, although it is probably true; the use of this in writing :
'More haste, less speed' is a well-known paradox.
It's a work full of paradox and ambiguity.
► para·dox·ical / ˌpærəˈdɒksɪkl; NAmE -ˈdɑːks-/ adjective :
It is paradoxical that some of the poorest people live in some of the richest areas of the country.
► para·dox·ic·al·ly / -kli; NAmE / adverb :
Paradoxically, the less she ate, the fatter she got.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a statement contrary to accepted opinion): via late Latin from Greek paradoxon contrary (opinion), neuter adjective used as a noun, from para- distinct from + doxa opinion.