paranormal

adjective

para·​nor·​mal ˌper-ə-ˈnȯr-məl 

ˌpa-rə-;

ˈper-ə-ˌnȯr-,

ˈpa-rə-

: not scientifically explainable : supernatural

paranormal noun

paranormality

ˌper-ə-ˌnȯr-ˈma-lə-tē 

ˌpa-rə-

noun

paranormally

ˌper-ə-ˈnȯr-mə-lē 

ˌpa-rə-;

ˈper-ə-ˌnȯr-

ˈpa-rə-

adverb

Synonyms

• metaphysical
• otherworldly
• preternatural
• supernatural
• transcendent
• transcendental
• unearthly

Examples of paranormal in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

David is recruited by the Vatican’s secret service to ‘remote view’ a paranormal ability to see the unseen in order to detect evil. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024

Exposure on TikTok has led to jobs writing freelance pieces and contributing to documentaries about paranormal occurrences and unsolved mysteries. —Leah Willingham, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024

The plot follows a trashy paranormal docu-series host who’s intent on proving herself as a legitimate investigative journalist, and her discovery that Godzilla is actually a malevolent supernatural force possessed by the souls of everyone killed in the Pacific theater during the war. —Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024

Whether paranormal, psychological, or genetic, humans have interpreted the idea of the doppelgänger in an assortment of ways. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024

This thriller delves into the life of Ana, entangled in a web of desire for a patient’s husband which may be resulting in paranormal occurrences, challenging her sanity. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024

Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge has long enjoyed a parallel career as an author, filmmaker and UFO researcher/activist, and his next endeavor away from the stage taps into those paranormal vibes. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 28 Feb. 2024

Fans of Night Country will love the show’s combination of gritty crime and haunting paranormal elements. —Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 19 Feb. 2024

These were bizarre choices for a show that doesn’t otherwise delve into actual paranormal activity, and Torres knew it. —Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing paranormal

• the paranormal

Medical Definition

paranormal

adjective

para·​nor·​mal ˌpar-ə-ˈnȯr-məl 

: not understandable in terms of known scientific laws and phenomena

experiments in paranormal cognition of drawings

—Psychological Abstracts

paranormally

-ē 

adverb