para-
Syllables: par·a-/ˈpæɹə/US/ˈpɛɹə/
para- prefix: beside, alongside.
Prefix (1)
para-
- beside, alongside
- para- → parallel
- para- → parasite
- parallel
- para- + conformity → paraconformity
- para- + axial → paraxial
- between
- Synonyms:
- dia-, inter-, cellular, paracellular, conule, paraconule
- around, surrounding
- para- + cortex → paracortex
- para- + diapophysis → paradiapophysis
- covering
- para- + colpitis → paracolpitis
- adjacent, next to
- para- + central → paracentral
- para- + caval → paracaval
- Synonyms:
- juxta-
- near
- para- + anal → paranal
- para- + epididymis → parepididymis
- opposite of, on the far side of
- para- + cavernous → paracavernous
- Synonyms:
- trans-
- above, over
- para- + ductal → paraductal
- para- + coronoid → paracoronoid
- across, through, throughout
- para- + cerebral → paracerebral
- para- + cloacal → paracloacal
- beyond
- para- → paradox (literally “beyond expectation”)
- para- + normal → paranormal
- abnormal
- para- + algesia → paralgesia
- incorrect
- false
- para- + diorthosis → paradiorthosis
Show 6 more meaningsShow fewer meanings
- resembling
- para- + amylum → paraamylum
- para- + military → paramilitary
- unrecognized, unauthorized, or unsanctioned
- para- + state → parastate
- para- + baptism → parabaptism
- avoiding or avoidant
- para- + enteral → parenteral
- para- + consistent → paraconsistent
- In isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in opposite (1,4) positions (compare ortho- and meta-)
- Synonyms:
- p-
- related or pertaining to
- para- + bicanonical → parabicanonical
- para- + bigeminal → parabigeminal
- affecting or concerning lower body
- para- + anesthesia → paranesthesia
- para- + ballism → paraballism
Prefix (2)
para-
- to guard against, to avert, to shield from; to provide protection against, defence from
Prefix (3)
para-
- Parachute
- para- + skiing → paraskiing
Prefix (4)
para-
- disability sport
para- meaning in Tamil and Persian
para- in Tamil
- புற
para- in Persian
- above, beyond
- پیرا pirâ-
Examples of para- in a sentence
- para- + ethmoid → parethmoid
- para- + condylar → paracondylar
- para- + cotylar → paracotylar
- para- + coastal → paracoastal
- para- + esophageal → paraesophageal
- para- + clival → paraclival
Synonyms of para-
Forms of para-
| alternative form | par- |
|---|
Origin of para-
From Ancient Greek παρα- (para-, “beside, next to”).
From French para-, from Italian para-, from para, imperative of parare (“to defend, shield, shroud”), from Latin parō (“to prepare”).
From parachute.
Words formed from para-
- parabiology
- paranormal
- parapsychology
- P-
- parabola
- paradigm
- paradox
- parallel
- parallelogram
- paramedic
- paramilitary
- parasite
- paratext
- paravirtualization
- para-bore
- protection against bore
- paragrandine
- paravane
- parabrake
- paracord
- paradiver
- paradoctor
- paradrop
- parafoil
- parafrag bomb
- paraglider
- parajump
- parajute
- parakiting
- parapants
- paraplane
- parasheet
- paraski
- paraspotter
- paratrooper
- para-archery
- para-athlete
- parathlete
- paracanoe
- para-canoe
- paracycling
- para-cycling
- Paralympian
- Paralympiad
- Paralympics
- Paralympic Games
- paraskiing
- para nordic skiing
- parasport
- parasports
- para-sport
- para-sports
- paratriathlon
Questions about para-
- What does para- mean?
- Para- means beside, alongside.
- What is para- in Tamil?
- Para- in Tamil is புற. See Para- meaning in Tamil.
- How do you use para- in a sentence?
- para- + ethmoid → parethmoid
- What part of speech is para-?
- Para- is a prefix.
- How do you pronounce para-?
- Para- is pronounced /ˈpæɹə/ (UK).
Words near para- in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: para- (page history and authors); para- (Tamil Wiktionary) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-para-.wav.
Cite this entry: “para-.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/para-. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.