paralytic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal (medical); Informal (drunk)
Quick answer
What does “paralytic” mean?
Relating to or affected by paralysis.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to or affected by paralysis; unable to move or function.
Extremely drunk; so intoxicated as to be incapable of movement or coherent action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The informal meaning 'extremely drunk' is far more common and current in British English. In American English, the word is used almost exclusively in its medical sense.
Connotations
UK: Medical (neutral), Drunk (informal, vivid). US: Primarily medical; 'drunk' connotation is rare and may be perceived as a Britishism.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to dual usage. Lower frequency in US English, mostly confined to medical/formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “paralytic” in a Sentence
[be/become] paralytic (with fear/drink)suffer a paralytic [stroke/attack]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “paralytic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not standard as a verb; use 'paralyse')
American English
- (Not standard as a verb; use 'paralyze')
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as an adverb)
American English
- (Rarely used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The accident left him partially paralytic.
- By last orders, he was completely paralytic and had to be carried home.
American English
- The toxin can cause paralytic effects within hours.
- She suffered a paralytic stroke that affected her right side.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'The company was left paralytic by the sudden market crash.'
Academic
Common in medical/neuroscience literature: 'The study examined paralytic sequelae of the virus.'
Everyday
UK: Informal for 'very drunk'. 'He was absolutely paralytic after the party.' US: Rare in everyday speech.
Technical
Standard in medical terminology: 'paralytic agent', 'acute paralytic poliomyelitis'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “paralytic”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “paralytic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “paralytic”
- Using 'paralytic' to mean 'paralysing' (e.g., 'a paralytic fear' is correct as 'causing immobility', but 'a paralytic injection' is wrong; it should be 'a paralyzing injection').
- Overusing the informal drunk meaning in American contexts where it is not idiomatic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but primarily in medical contexts to mean 'a person affected by paralysis'. The informal noun use for a drunk person is very rare and regionally specific (UK).
In the medical sense, it is a clinical term. However, using it to describe a person with a disability can be dehumanising; terms like 'person with paralysis' are often preferred. The informal 'drunk' meaning is not offensive per se but is very colloquial.
'Paralysed' is the more common general adjective ('a paralysed limb'). 'Paralytic' often implies a medical condition or cause ('paralytic disease') and can function as a noun. They are largely synonymous as adjectives.
The main differences are in the vowel sound of the first syllable (/ær/ in BrE vs /er/ in AmE) and the 't' in the third syllable (/t/ in BrE vs a flapped/tapped /t̬/ in AmE), which sounds like a soft 'd'.
Relating to or affected by paralysis.
Paralytic is usually formal (medical); informal (drunk) in register.
Paralytic: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpær.əˈlɪt.ɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌper.əˈlɪt̬.ɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(as) paralytic as a newt (UK informal)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PARALYsed paTlent lying in a hospital bed, completely still (paralytic). Or, for the informal meaning, picture someone so drunk they can't move from the pub floor.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMOBILITY IS DEATH / LOSS OF CONTROL; EXTREME STATES ARE PHYSICAL COLLAPSE.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'paralytic' commonly used informally to mean 'extremely drunk'?