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

Wolff had written paranormal fiction before, but love stories were her O.T.P., her one true pairing. —Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Some comments under the video show viewers spooked by the scene, weighing in on whether the leg movement was a result of some kind of paranormal intervention or not. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024

It was written by a retired linguist and paranormal hobbyist who skeptics felt played with the truth. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024

While tending to the property, Lawson, who lived above the nightclub until his death in 2012, started having paranormal experiences. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 12 Dec. 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