paradigmatically

Paradigmatically is an adverb derived from paradigmatic, used to describe actions, events, or statements that illustrate or conform to a paradigm. A paradigm is a typical pattern, model, or framework that governs a field of inquiry, guiding methods, interpretations, and criteria for evaluation. Etymology: paradigmatic comes from the noun paradigm, from Greek paradeigma “example,” via Latin and French into English; the adverb paradigmatically follows standard English formation with the -ly suffix.

In use, paradigmatically conveys that something functions as a representative example within a larger system, or that it aligns with a prevailing framework. It is common in scholarly writing in fields such as philosophy, linguistics, sociology, and science studies, where researchers discuss how findings, theories, or methodologies sit within or contrast with a paradigm. For instance, a study may be described as paradigmatically illustrating how the standard model explains a phenomenon, or a linguistic data point may be paradigmatically related to a particular word class in Saussurean semiotics.

The term is somewhat specialized and can come across as formal or technical. It is not typically used in everyday speech, where adjectives like typical, representative, or exemplary may be preferred. See also paradigm, paradigmatic, paradigm shift, and semiotics.