paraplegic
paraplegic Lexical Profile
paraplegic Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, affected by, or characteristic of paraplegia (paralysis of the legs and lower body).
"The rehabilitation center offers specialized physical therapy programs for paraplegic patients."
• noun
A person affected by paraplegia (paralysis of the legs and lower body).
"After his spinal cord injury, he became a competitive wheelchair marathoner and an inspiration to other paraplegics."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse with 'quadriplegic' (or 'tetraplegic'), which refers to paralysis affecting all four limbs, whereas 'paraplegic' refers specifically to paralysis of the legs and lower body. In contemporary medical and disability advocacy contexts, person-first language (e.g., 'a person with paraplegia') is often preferred over using the noun 'a paraplegic'.
• Rhymes for paraplegic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the French 'paraplégique' or directly from 'paraplegia', which comes from the Ancient Greek 'paraplēgía' (paralysis of one side), from 'paraplēssō' (to strike at the side), combining 'para-' (beside) and 'plēssō' (to strike).