interesting number paradox

proper noun

A humorous paradox arising from the attempt to classify every natural number as either "interesting" or "uninteresting". If there exists a non-empty set of uninteresting natural numbers, there must be a smallest uninteresting number, but this number is paradoxically interesting because it is the smallest uninteresting number.

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Meanings

proper nounthe interesting number paradox
  1. mathematicsA humorous paradox arising from the attempt to classify every natural number as either "interesting" or "uninteresting". If there exists a non-empty set of uninteresting natural numbers, there must be a smallest uninteresting number, but this number is paradoxically interesting because it is the smallest uninteresting number.
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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