paragraph

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

|Updated on: 14 Jun 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

That was evident in the first full paragraph of his presidential candidacy announcement, delivered in the same Senate Caucus Room that John Kennedy used for that purpose in 1960 and that Edward Kennedy would use in 1980.

— david m. shribman, BostonGlobe.com, "50 years after RFK’s death, legacy endures," 3 June 2018
This week, though, sees the publication of two studies which, added together, form an important paragraph in the story of the human brain.

— The Economist, "A history of big-headedness," 31 May 2018
A few years ago, that entire paragraph would have sounded like an especially inventive MadLibs.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "Mrs. Kardashian West Goes to Washington," 30 May 2018
His name appeared in the eighth paragraph of a story a few weeks ago.

— ed barkowitz, Philly.com, "Dick Fowler's no-hitter for the Philadelphia A's comes back to life (sort of)," 24 May 2018
Here is the text of the amendment: Under NASA, science, after the paragraph titled Earth Science Decadal, insert the following: Climate Monitoring System: Within the funds provided for Earth Science.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "That NASA climate science program Trump axed? House lawmakers just moved to restore it," 17 May 2018
In a nod to the booming freedom of speech, newspapers offered their pages to rabid antisemites who blamed Jews for both the Russian Revolution and the ills of the Soviet system, often in the same paragraph.

— margarita gokun silver, Longreads, "The Forever Nomad," 30 Apr. 2018
Purely as a high school player, Loyer belongs in the same paragraph with the best of the best.

— mick mccabe, Detroit Free Press, "Class C champ Detroit Edison's Brandon Neely lives with memory of gun shot," 25 Mar. 2018
This whole paragraph is made up of sentences from previous columns.

— yvonne abraham, BostonGlobe.com, "In Britain, a break from the awful," 19 May 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