paradigm shift

noun

formal
: an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way
This discovery will bring about a paradigm shift in our understanding of evolution.

Examples of paradigm shift in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What’s needed, then, may be a paradigm shift in the way the security community operates. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 Maybe there’s a paradigm shift and there’s a different set of products. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 17 Oct. 2026 Some analysts are exhilarated at the prospect of a world-changing paradigm shift. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026 Thus far, this new physics has failed to manifest at the LHC, but this only makes scientists more keen to hunt for what could represent a paradigm shift on a scale comparable to the development of Einstein's theory of general relativity. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paradigm shift

Rhymes for paradigm shift

See All Rhymes for paradigm shift

Browse Nearby Words

paradigmatize
paradigm shift
paradiplomatic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paradigm shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paradigm%20shift. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All