paralysis

UK: /pəˈræləsɪs/, /pəˈrælɪsɪs/

US: /pəˈræləsɪs/

US: (pə ral′ə sis)

Inflections of 'paralysis' (n): npl: paralyses

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pa•ral•y•sis /pəˈræləsɪs/   n., pl. -ses 

/-ˌsiz/.  
1. Pathology
   • [countable] a loss of or reduction in the ability to move or to feel a sensation in a body part, caused by injury to or disease of the brain or spinal cord.
2. a state of helpless inability to act:
   [uncountable] The department drifted in paralysis until new management took over.

See -lys-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pa•ral•y•sis  (pə ral′ə sis), n., pl. -ses 

(-sēz′). 
1. Pathology
   • a loss or impairment of voluntary movement in a body part, caused by injury or disease of the nerves, brain, or spinal cord.
   • a disease characterized by this, esp. palsy.
2. a state of helpless stoppage, inactivity, or inability to act:
   The strike caused a paralysis of all shipping.

• Latin, as above; compare palsy
• Latin, as above; replacing late Old English paralisin (accusative)
• Old French
• Greek parálysis, equivalent. to paraly-, var stem of paralý̄ein to loosen (i.e., disable) on one side (para- para-¹ + lý̄ein to loosen) + -sis -sis; replacing Middle English paralisi(e)
• Latin
• bef. 1150

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

paralysis / pəˈrælɪsɪs/ noun ( -ses / -ˌsiːz/)

1. impairment or loss of voluntary muscle function or of sensation (sensory paralysis) in a part or area of the body, usually caused by a lesion or disorder of the muscles or the nerves supplying them
2. a disease characterized by such impairment or loss; palsy
3. cessation or impairment of activity: paralysis of industry by strikes

Etymology: 16th Century: via Latin from Greek paralusis; see para-¹, -lysis