paralipsis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Proficiency - Very Low Frequency)Formal, Literary, Rhetorical
Quick answer
What does “paralipsis” mean?
The rhetorical device of drawing attention to something by professing to omit or ignore it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The rhetorical device of drawing attention to something by professing to omit or ignore it.
Any instance of emphasizing a point by stating that it will not be discussed, thereby making it more prominent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The concept and term are identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally associated with formal oratory, political discourse, and literary criticism in both cultures.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech in both regions. Slightly more likely to be encountered in academic or political commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “paralipsis” in a Sentence
[Subject] + [verb of speaking/writing] + [prepositional phrase/clause introduced by 'by not mentioning' or 'without referring to']Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in high-stakes negotiations or corporate communications to imply criticism without direct accusation (e.g., 'I won't mention the project's budget overruns...').
Academic
Used in disciplines like rhetoric, linguistics, political science, and literary analysis to describe a specific persuasive technique.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. Recognizing the device is more common than naming it.
Technical
A precise term in rhetoric and discourse analysis for a figure of speech.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “paralipsis”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “paralipsis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “paralipsis”
- Misspelling as 'paralysis'.
- Using it to mean simply 'omission' without the ironic, attention-drawing component.
- Pronouncing it with the stress on the second syllable (/pəˈrælɪpsɪs/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Paralipsis is a rhetorical device, not a direct falsehood. It involves mentioning something by saying you won't mention it, which is a form of ironic emphasis.
It is common in both written and spoken discourse, especially in formal argumentation, journalism, and literature.
They are often used synonymously. Some rhetoricians distinguish them, with apophasis being the broader genus (denying something while saying it) and paralipsis a specific species (passing over/omitting). In practice, the terms overlap significantly.
Not inherently, but it can be used fallaciously as a form of poisoning the well or making an insinuation without evidence, which the speaker then avoids defending.
The rhetorical device of drawing attention to something by professing to omit or ignore it.
Paralipsis is usually formal, literary, rhetorical in register.
Paralipsis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌparəˈlɪpsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɛrəˈlɪpsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To say something by not saying it.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PARALIPSIS as a PARALLEL LIP SERVICE: your lips are saying they won't go there, but they're running a parallel track right to the point.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIGHLIGHTING BY SHADOWING; DRAWING ATTENTION BY PRETENDING TO LOOK AWAY.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of paralipsis?