aporia

noun

apo·​ria ə-ˈpȯr-ē-ə How to pronounce aporia (audio)
1
: an expression of real or pretended doubt or uncertainty especially for rhetorical effect
2
: a logical impasse or contradiction
especially : a radical contradiction in the import of a text or theory that is seen in deconstruction as inevitable

Word History

Etymology

French aporie, ultimately from Greek aporia difficulty, perplexity, from aporos impassable, from a- + poros passage — more at fare

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aporia was circa 1550

Dictionary Entries Near aporia

Cite this Entry

“Aporia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aporia. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!