What does "paradigm shift" mean?

A radical change in thinking from an accepted point of view to a new one, necessitated when new scientific discoveries produce anomalies in the current paradigm.

Paradigm shift

Q: What is a synonym for "paradigm shift"?

Common synonyms include: cataclysm, cloud computing revolution, copernican revolution, cultural revolutions, epoch-making change, epoch-making discovery.

noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1
A radical change in thinking from an accepted point of view to a new one, necessitated when new scientific discoveries produce anomalies in the current paradigm.
"Near-synonyms: reconceptualization, rethinking; reframing, remodeling"
2
Any radical change, especially in politics or technology. broadly
"Near-synonyms: sea change, step change, quantum leap"

Synonyms

All synonyms

cataclysm cloud computing revolution copernican revolution cultural revolutions epoch-making change epoch-making discovery

Antonyms

All antonyms

continuity stasis

Example

More examples

"Near-synonyms: reconceptualization, rethinking; reframing, remodeling"

Etymology

Coined by American historian, physicist and philosopher Thomas Kuhn in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962).

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