paranormal

adjective para·nor·mal \ ˌper-ə-ˈnȯr-məl , ˌpa-rə- ; ˈper-ə-ˌnȯr- , ˈpa-rə- \

Updated on: 1 Dec 2017

Definition of paranormal

: not scientifically explainable : supernatural

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paranormal

noun

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paranormality

play \ˌper-ə-ˌnȯr-ˈma-lə-tē, ˌpa-rə-\ noun

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paranormally

play \ˌper-ə-ˈnȯr-mə-lē, ˌpa-rə-; ˈper-ə-ˌnȯr-, ˈpa-rə-\ adverb

See paranormal defined for English-language learners

Examples of paranormal in a Sentence

there are rumors that the old deserted mansion is the site of paranormal activity

Recent Examples of paranormal from the Web

After falling in love with a photographer, Hannah Green Stuart, who claimed to be a clairvoyant, Mumler—neither a Spiritualist nor a believer in paranormal communications—began to reconsider his views.

— karen abbott, WSJ, "Review: ‘The Apparitionists’ and the Ghosts in the Machine," 20 Oct. 2017
Includes exclusive access to building, grounds and use of authentic paranormal detection tools.

— luann gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "How to Halloween all October long," 29 Sep. 2017
Wagner and Failing admitted to having experienced a paranormal experience at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum.

— david sharos, Aurora Beacon-News, "Paranormal group hosts 'shivers down your spine' event in Aurora," 14 Oct. 2017
Norman’s ability to interact with the paranormal world has made him the school outcast; even his family isn’t keen on his gift (Anna Kendrick is hilarious as Norman’s eye-rolling, sighing teenage sister).

— amy wang | the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "Here's a refresher on the Laika films featured in a Portland Art Museum exhibit," 11 Oct. 2017
Spooky, paranormal stories are inspired by strangeness in the world around us.

— sarah klein, Health.com, "The Surprising Medical Origins of Vampires, Zombies, Werewolves, and More Spooky Characters," 2 Oct. 2017
The troupe is led by Professor Andreas Nachtleitter, world-renowned paranormal researcher, investigator of the strange and expert in bizarre history.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Windham Edition," 11 Sep. 2017
But even though the problems afflicting the town aren't paranormal, the dialogue occasionally veers into the realm of the strange.

— eliza thompson, Cosmopolitan, "A Complete Glossary of Every Important Riverdale Term," 16 Oct. 2017
Tension can persist in the absence of ghosts; students coming back from the dead easily and without any paranormal baggage would still have to negotiate the public response to their reduction of death to a token amusement.

— nitin k. ahuja, Slate Magazine, "Why Do We Keep Resurrecting the Cautionary Medical Tale?," 3 Oct. 2017

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