arrow paradox

noun

One of Zeno's paradoxes, dealing with the apparent impossibility of an arrow flying through space: if everything when it occupies an equal space is at rest at that instant of time, and if that which is in locomotion is always occupying such a space at any moment, the flying arrow is therefore motionless at that instant of time and at the next instant of time, but if both instants of time are taken as the same instant or continuous instant of time then it is in motion.

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Meanings

arrow paradox1

nounarrow paradox (plural arrow paradoxes)

plural arrow paradoxes

  1. human sciencesOne of Zeno's paradoxes, dealing with the apparent impossibility of an arrow flying through space: if everything when it occupies an equal space is at rest at that instant of time, and if that which is in locomotion is always occupying such a space at any moment, the flying arrow is therefore motionless at that instant of time and at the next instant of time, but if both instants of time are taken as the same instant or continuous instant of time then it is in motion.

Arrow paradox2

nounArrow paradox (plural Arrow paradoxes)

plural Arrow paradoxes

  1. alternativeAlternative form of Arrow's paradox.
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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