'Paradigm' definitions:

Definition of 'paradigm'

(from WordNet)
noun
Systematic arrangement of all the inflected forms of a word
noun
A standard or typical example; "he is the prototype of good breeding"; "he provided America with an image of the good father" [syn: prototype, paradigm, epitome, image]
noun
The class of all items that can be substituted into the same position (or slot) in a grammatical sentence (are in paradigmatic relation with one another) [syn: substitution class, paradigm]
noun
The generally accepted perspective of a particular discipline at a given time; "he framed the problem within the psychoanalytic paradigm"

Definition of 'Paradigm'

From: GCIDE
  • Paradigm \Par"a*digm\, n. [F. paradigme, L. paradigma, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to show by the side of, to set up as an example; para` beside + ? to show. See Para-, and Diction.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. An example; a model; a pattern. [R.] "The paradigms and patterns of all things." --Cudworth. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Gram.) An example of a conjugation or declension, showing a word in all its different forms of inflection. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Rhet.) An illustration, as by a parable or fable. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Science) A theory providing a unifying explanation for a set of phenomena in some field, which serves to suggest methods to test the theory and develop a fuller understanding of the topic, and which is considered useful until it is be replaced by a newer theory providing more accurate explanations or explanations for a wider range of phenomena. [PJC] Paradigmatic

Synonyms of 'paradigm'

From: Moby Thesaurus