paranormal

adjective

para·​nor·​mal ˌper-ə-ˈnȯr-məl How to pronounce paranormal (audio)
ˌpa-rə-;
ˈper-ə-ˌnȯr-,
ˈpa-rə-
: not scientifically explainable : supernatural
paranormal noun
paranormality noun
paranormally
ˌper-ə-ˈnȯr-mə-lē How to pronounce paranormal (audio)
ˌpa-rə-;
ˈper-ə-ˌnȯr-
ˈpa-rə-
adverb

Example Sentences

there are rumors that the old deserted mansion is the site of paranormal activity
Recent Examples on the Web The special stars paranormal investigators Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Jay Wasley and Billy Tolley investigating secrets along the Hoover Dam’s Lake Mead. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 May 2023 The Oscar winner portrays the Vatican's real-life paranormal investigator Father Gabriele Amorth in a new terror tale. Clark Collis, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2023 Lastly, Discovery+ is the streaming home of food, home, relationships, true crime, paranormal and so much more. al, 5 Jan. 2023 The film follows her journey alongside the others interned as paranormal forces start to mount among the holy and the tortured. Holly Jones, Variety, 7 July 2022 Bulldog Tours has options ranging from a visit to the haunted (and historic) old jail to a paranormal investigation of the USS Yorktown. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2023 In true Lynch fashion, the show was built on trippy moments that led each viewer through paranormal encounters, parallel worlds and a bit of confusion before all of the pieces of Palmer's murder fell into place. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 24 Oct. 2022 Much of his research has led Dairen to other states, where he’s discovered a similar gap in paranormal lore – particularly among stories that focus on enslaved or Native southerners. Rebecca Griesbach | Rgriesbach@al.com, al, 30 Aug. 2022 The movie is based on the real-life exploits of paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren. Lauren Puckett-pope, Good Housekeeping, 19 May 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paranormal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paranormal was in 1905

Dictionary Entries Near paranormal

Cite this Entry

“Paranormal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paranormal. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

Medical Definition

paranormal

adjective
para·​nor·​mal ˌpar-ə-ˈnȯr-məl How to pronounce paranormal (audio)
: not understandable in terms of known scientific laws and phenomena
experiments in paranormal cognition of drawingsPsychological Abstracts
paranormally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on paranormal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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