paragraph

noun par·a·graph \ ˈper-ə-ˌgraf , ˈpa-rə- \

Updated on: 17 May 2018

Definition of paragraph

1 a : a subdivision of a written composition that consists of one or more sentences, deals with one point or gives the words of one speaker, and begins on a new usually indented line

The introductory paragraphs were written by the editor.

b : a short composition or note that is complete in one paragraph

2 : a character (such as ¶) used to indicate the beginning of a paragraph and as a reference mark

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paragraphic

play \ˌper-ə-ˈgra-fik, ˌpa-rə-\ adjective

See paragraph defined for English-language learners

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Examples of paragraph in a Sentence

In the second paragraph from the bottom, you've misspelled “their” as “thier.”
Please refer to section 2, paragraph 4 for the appropriate information.
The two introductory paragraphs were written by the editor.

Recent Examples of paragraph from the Web

The Times did not mention those claims until the 42nd paragraph of its main story Monday night.

— samuel chamberlain, Fox News, "NY Times accused of anti-Israel bias in coverage of Mideast violence," 14 May 2018
The New York Times reports that this week the architect of the 9/11 attack asked a military judge at Guantánamo Bay for permission to share six paragraphs of information about Haspel with the Senate Intelligence Committee.

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "Gina Haspel Promises Not to Reinstate Torture If Confirmed as CIA Director," 9 May 2018
Back in 2016, during the Republican National Convention, now First Lady Melania Trump plagiarized an entire paragraph from a speech given by former First Lady Michelle Obama.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "Melania Trump’s New ‘Be Best’ Booklet Basically Copies an Obama FTC Pamphlet," 8 May 2018
Reading beyond paragraph two could jeopardize our friendship.

— doug maccash, NOLA.com, "New Orleans Jazz Fest 2018: Why Beck is like a fried baloney sandwich," 5 May 2018
And truth is laid out in very plain paragraphs in the complaint that was filed today.

— paul gattis, AL.com, "What Roy Moore said about needing money, running for office," 30 Apr. 2018
Passionate paragraphs, the subject-verb-object of ardor.

— Longreads, "The Ladies Who Were Famous for Wanting to Be Left Alone," 17 Apr. 2018
Those paragraphs related to Wilcox’s earliest contracts for his top staff, an update on hiring a board clerk and the board chair’s request that members check their availability for a July meeting.

— ann doss helms, charlotteobserver, "Denial, delay and redactions: Our quest to get minutes of CMS board’s closed meetings | Charlotte Observer," 12 Mar. 2018
That line, and the eight paragraphs that follow, spells out why the 14-member commission believes the NCAA's current strategy would struggle to handle the cases that will come after the FBI finishes its investigation.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "How the NCAA plans to overhaul its enforcement and infractions process," 26 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'paragraph.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of paragraph

Middle English paragraf marginal sign marking a paragraph, from Anglo-French parogref, from Medieval Latin paragraphus, from Greek paragraphos line used to mark change of persons in a dialogue, from paragraphein to write alongside, from para- + graphein to write — more at carve

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year