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

The venue's beloved mechanical bull, country music memorabilia, Bobby Mackey's stage costumes, a 2004 Ford Thunderbird, items related to the venue's paranormal folklore and more were sold in a public auction over the summer. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 12 Dec. 2024

The county noted that the place was even visited by paranormal investigators from SyFy Channel’s Ghost Hunters. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024

Famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren concluded there was a genuine supernatural presence within the home. —Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024

The Bluegrass, with a population of more than 4.5 million, has nearly 46,000 cemeteries, more than 1,250 ghost sightings, 412 haunted locations and 19 paranormal investigators. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 25 Oct. 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