Epimenides paradox

noun

A form of self-referential logical paradox associated with statements of the form "All Cretans are liars" (spoken by Epimenedes, himself a Cretan, who must therefore be lying).

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Meanings

nounEpimenides paradox (plural Epimenides paradoxes)

plural Epimenides paradoxes

  1. A form of self-referential logical paradox associated with statements of the form "All Cretans are liars" (spoken by Epimenedes, himself a Cretan, who must therefore be lying).

Origin

Named after the Cretan philosopher Epimenides of Cnossos (alive circa 600 BC), who is credited with the original statement.

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Cite this entry
APA

Epimenides paradox. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Epimenides%20paradox

MLA

“Epimenides paradox.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Epimenides%20paradox. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Epimenides paradox,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Epimenides%20paradox.

Source: Epimenides paradox on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.