paranormal

P3A1R1A1N1O1R1M3A1L1

adjective

Of events, experiences, or phenomena, that cannot be explained by current scientific understanding or natural laws.

“Our next guest has spent a 40-year career studying the paranormal, and he has some thoughts he wants to share with our audience tonight.”

Similar
extrasensoryclairvoyanttelegnostictelepathicparapsychologicalpsychicpsychicalpsychokinetic
Opposite
normal
Less commonScrabble 14
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Meanings

adjectiveparanormal (comparative more paranormal, superlative most paranormal)

comparative more paranormal · superlative most paranormal

  1. Of events, experiences, or phenomena, that cannot be explained by current scientific understanding or natural laws.

    “We who study the paranormal always hope for strong readings with our equipment,” explains Nancy.

    2013, JoAnn Myers, Wicked Intentions
nounparanormal (plural paranormals)

plural paranormals

  1. Paranormal phenomena collectively: all things paranormal; things with paranormality.

    Our next guest has spent a 40-year career studying the paranormal, and he has some thoughts he wants to share with our audience tonight.

  2. A person to whom paranormal powers are attributed.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveseemingly outside normal sensory channels

Similar
extrasensoryclairvoyanttelegnostictelepathic

adjectivenot in accordance with scientific laws

Similar
parapsychologicalpsychicpsychicalpsychokineticsupernormalsupranormal
Opposite
normal
Also see
clairvoyantextrasensoryparanaturalparapsychologicalpreternaturalpsychicpsychicalpsychokineticsupernormalsupranormaltelegnostictelepathicweirdnesswoo woo

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From para- (“beyond”) + normal; compare supernatural. First use appears c. 1905.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic خارق للطبيعَة
  • خارق للطبيعَةthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Catalan paranormal
  • paranormalthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Chinese Mandarin 超常的
  • 超常的that cannot be explained by scientific methods
Czech paranormální
  • paranormálníthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Danish paranormal
  • paranormalthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Finnish paranormaali, yliluonnollinen
  • paranormaalithat cannot be explained by scientific methods
  • yliluonnollinenthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Greek παραφυσικός, αφύσικος
  • παραφυσικός (parafysikós)that cannot be explained by scientific methods
  • αφύσικος (afýsikos)that cannot be explained by scientific methods
  • υπερφυσικός (yperfysikós)that cannot be explained by scientific methods
Hungarian paranormális
  • paranormálisthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Irish paranormálta
  • paranormáltathat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Italian paranormale
  • paranormalethat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Māori whaiwhaiā
  • whaiwhaiāthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Polish paranormalny
  • paranormalnythat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Portuguese paranormal
  • paranormalthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Russian паранормальный
  • паранормальный (paranormalʹnyj)that cannot be explained by scientific methods
Spanish paranormal
  • paranormalthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Vietnamese siêu tâm linh, huyền bí
  • siêu tâm linhthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
  • huyền bíthat cannot be explained by scientific methods
Cite this entry
APA

paranormal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paranormal

MLA

“paranormal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paranormal. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “paranormal,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paranormal.

Source: paranormal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.