para
para — noun
1. a short, casual word for a paratrooper — that is, a soldier trained to jump from
a short, casual word for a paratrooper — that is, a soldier trained to jump from a plane using a parachute and land in enemy territory.
Marcus served as a para in the British Army for twelve years.
subject + be/serve as + a para
The paras dropped into the valley just before dawn on Tuesday.
plural use: the paras + action verb
Three retired paras spoke at the school assembly about their training jumps in Wales.
Two paras helped pull the wounded driver from the burning truck.
- paratrooper
the full, neutral form used in writing
- airborne soldier
more general; covers any troops moved by air
用法筆記
Informal British military slang; in formal writing or American English, prefer 'paratrooper'. Often used in plural ('the paras') as a casual name for a parachute regiment.
常見錯誤
2. a short written form of 'paragraph', used mostly by editors, journalists, and st
a short written form of 'paragraph', used mostly by editors, journalists, and students when they want to point to a specific block of text quickly.
Could you cut the third para on page two? It repeats the opening line.
ordinal + para: the third para, the second para
The editor wrote 'rewrite this para' in red ink across Lina's draft.
Sarah added two new paras to the introduction before sending the article in.
Move that quote up into the opening para so readers see it first.
用法筆記
Mostly used in newsroom, editorial, and classroom shorthand — rare in finished printed text. Frequently appears with ordinal numbers ('the third para') or instructions ('cut this para', 'rewrite this para').
常見錯誤
para — prefix
1. added to the front of a word to mean 'past the edge of what is normal or what sc
added to the front of a word to mean 'past the edge of what is normal or what science can explain' — as in 'paranormal' (events outside normal experience) or 'paradox' (an idea that goes beyond ordinary logic).
Mei refused to sleep at the old farmhouse after hearing paranormal stories about footsteps in the attic.
para- + normal: events science cannot explain
The detective's claim was a paradox: the killer was both inside and outside the locked room.
para- + dox (Greek 'opinion'): an idea past normal logic
Doctor Tanaka studies parapsychology, looking for signs of mind reading and other unusual mental powers.
The villagers told the journalist about a paranormal light that floats above the lake every autumn.
- intra-
'within' — opposite direction (intramural, intravenous)
文法句型
para- + noun (paranormal, paradox)
para- + adjective
用法筆記
This sense gives the new word a 'beyond ordinary' flavour. Distinguish from sense 2 (parallel-but-separate, as in 'paramedic') and sense 3 (subordinate helper, as in 'paralegal'): here, the meaning is 'goes past what we usually consider possible'.
常見錯誤
2. added to the front of a word to mean a group or activity that operates as a para
added to the front of a word to mean a group or activity that operates as a parallel rival to the main one — independent of its command, not under it — for example, a 'paramilitary' force fights like an army but answers to its own leaders, unlike a 'paramedic' (sense 3), who works under a doctor.
A paramilitary group patrolled the border without any official army uniform or badge.
para- + military: armed group running parallel to the army
The mayor's paramilitary police set up roadblocks across the capital and answered only to his office, not the national army.
paramilitary force answering to its own command, not the regular army
Rebel paramilitary units controlled three towns along the eastern river last summer.
Journalists in Bogotá warned that the new security force was really a paramilitary wing loyal to the ruling party.
文法句型
para- + profession noun (paramedic, paramilitary)
用法筆記
The new word names something that mirrors the base activity but sits outside its official structure. Differs from sense 3 (which means a helper or junior version of the base role) — here the parallel body is independent, not subordinate.
常見錯誤
3. added to the front of a job title to mean a trained worker who supports a fully
added to the front of a job title to mean a trained worker who supports a fully qualified professional — doing many of the same daily tasks but without the senior person's full licence or training, as in 'paralegal' or 'paramedic'.
Carlos works as a paralegal, drafting contracts for two senior lawyers in the firm.
para- + legal: trained helper to a lawyer
The paramedic checked the boy's pulse before the doctor reached the scene.
para- + medic: trained helper alongside doctors
Each classroom has a paraeducator who supports children with special learning needs.
After the highway pile-up, two paramedics treated injured drivers at the roadside while waiting for the surgeon to arrive.
文法句型
para- + profession noun (paralegal, paramedic, paraeducator)
用法筆記
The 'para-' worker is junior to and assists the named professional, not a parallel rival body (contrast with sense 2's 'paramilitary'). Most common in profession words: paralegal, paramedic, paraeducator, paraprofessional.
常見錯誤
para — adjective
1. placed before the name of a sport, athlete, or event to mark it as belonging to
placed before the name of a sport, athlete, or event to mark it as belonging to disability sport — that is, sport designed for athletes with a physical or visual impairment, as in 'para athlete', 'para cycling', or 'para swimming'.
Lina won her first medal as a para athlete at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
attributive: para + athlete
The new training centre offers para cycling, para swimming, and wheelchair basketball every week.
attributive: para + sport name
Marcus coached the national para swimming team for nearly ten years before he retired.
Local schools now invite para athletes to talk to students about training and goals.
- Paralympic
specifically the four-yearly Paralympic Games; 'para' is broader and covers training and club sport too
- adaptive
American term for sports adjusted for disability; less tied to elite competition
文法句型
para + sport noun (para athlete, para cycling, para swimming)
用法筆記
Used only before another noun (attributive), not after a linking verb — you say 'a para athlete' but not 'the athlete is para'. Often written as one word in older sources ('paraswimming'), but modern style usually keeps it open ('para swimming').