paralysis
puh-RA-luh-suhs
Paralysis (noun) means the loss of the ability to move part or all of the body. Example: “The accident left him with paralysis from the waist down.”
noun
1
The loss of the ability to move part or all of the body.
"The accident left him with paralysis from the waist down."
2
A state of being unable to act, often from fear or indecision.
"The government has been in a paralysis since it lost its majority in the parliament."
"Fear of failure led to total paralysis when it came to making a decision."
"Until then, the Sunak administration remains a study in ineffectuality on multiple fronts, leading Goldsmith to cite, not unreasonably, “a kind of paralysis”."
— Marina Hyde, The tide is coming in fast on Rishi Sunak – and it’s full of sewage (2023)
How to use paralysis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe inability to move (medically), or being stuck and unable to act (figuratively, like "analysis paralysis").
Common pairings
sleep paralysis
analysis paralysis
partial paralysis
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Word forms
- Plural
- paralyses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The accident left him with _____ from the waist down.
Etymology
From Greek paralysis, from paralyo ("to disable on one side") — a doublet of "palsy."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for paralysis
See all rhymes for paralysis →Frequently asked questions
What does “paralysis” mean?
The word “paralysis” means the loss of the ability to move part or all of the body. In plain terms, the inability to move (medically), or being stuck and unable to act (figuratively, like "analysis paralysis").
How do you pronounce “paralysis”?
“Paralysis” is pronounced puh-RA-luh-suhs (/pəˈɹæləsəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “paralysis” in a sentence?
Here is “paralysis” used in a sentence: “The accident left him with paralysis from the waist down.”
What is another word for “paralysis”?
Words with a similar meaning to “paralysis” include immobility and palsy.
What part of speech is “paralysis”?
“Paralysis” is a noun.
Where does the word “paralysis” come from?
The word “paralysis” comes from Greek. From Greek paralysis, from paralyo ("to disable on one side") — a doublet of "palsy.".
Is “paralysis” a common word?
“Paralysis” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “paralysis” have?
“Paralysis” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the loss of the ability to move part or all of the body.
