grandfather paradox: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “grandfather paradox” mean?
A theoretical paradox in which a time traveler's actions in the past, such as preventing their own grandfather from meeting their grandmother, would create a logical contradiction by negating the traveler's own existence and thus the possibility of the travel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A theoretical paradox in which a time traveler's actions in the past, such as preventing their own grandfather from meeting their grandmother, would create a logical contradiction by negating the traveler's own existence and thus the possibility of the travel.
A term used in physics, philosophy, and science fiction to discuss logical inconsistencies and potential constraints arising from the concept of time travel to the past. It serves as a classic argument against the possibility of such travel or as a foundation for theories like the Novikov self-consistency principle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. The term is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical technical and academic connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to specific academic/niche contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “grandfather paradox” in a Sentence
The [grandfather paradox] [poses/resolves/illustrates] a problem.One [encounters/faces] the [grandfather paradox] when considering...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grandfather paradox” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The plot of the film grandfather-paradoxes itself into impossibility.
- He realised he had grandfather-paradoxed his own timeline.
American English
- The story grandfather-paradoxes its protagonist.
- If you go back, you might grandfather-paradox your family line.
adjective
British English
- It was a grandfather-paradox scenario.
- The novel explores grandfather-paradox logic.
American English
- We debated a grandfather-paradox thought experiment.
- He faced a grandfather-paradox situation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Common in physics, philosophy, and literature papers discussing time, causality, and science fiction tropes.
Everyday
Extremely rare; might appear in casual discussions about time travel in films/books.
Technical
Core term in theoretical physics and philosophy of time, used in debates on closed timelike curves.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grandfather paradox”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grandfather paradox”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grandfather paradox”
- Using it as a general term for any paradox (e.g., 'That's a real grandfather paradox' for a simple contradiction).
- Misspelling as 'grandfather's paradox' (the possessive is less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
If you travel back in time and kill your own grandfather before he has children, you would never be born, so you couldn't have traveled back to kill him.
No, it is a logical argument highlighting a problem. Some theories, like the 'many-worlds' interpretation, propose ways to avoid the paradox.
The concept is often attributed to science fiction writer René Barjavel in his 1943 novel 'Le Voyageur Imprudent', though similar ideas appeared earlier.
Theoretical resolutions include the Novikov self-consistency principle (you cannot change the past) and the many-worlds interpretation (you create a new, divergent timeline).
Grandfather paradox is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Grandfather paradox: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡrænfɑːðə ˈpærədɒks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡrænˌfɑðɚ ˈpærəˌdɑks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[To be/To run into] a grandfather paradox situation.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine your GRANDFATHER, whose existence is a PARADOX because your time travel would prevent you from being born to travel back.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A LINE (where going back and changing it creates a BREAK/CONTRADICTION in the line).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the 'grandfather paradox' primarily discussed?