Parrondo's paradox

proper noun

The paradox whereby a combination of losing strategies (such as alternating between two games that each, played individually, would result in an overall loss) may give a winning strategy.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

proper noun
  1. computingThe paradox whereby a combination of losing strategies (such as alternating between two games that each, played individually, would result in an overall loss) may give a winning strategy.

Origin

Formulated in 1996 by Juan Parrondo.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Parrondo's paradox. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Parrondo's%20paradox

MLA

“Parrondo's paradox.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Parrondo's%20paradox. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Parrondo's paradox,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Parrondo's%20paradox.

Source: Parrondo's paradox on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.