paraplegic

paraplegic — adjective

1. describing a person whose lower body is paralyzed — someone cannot feel or move

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing a person whose lower body is paralyzed — someone cannot feel or move their legs, usually after an injury to the spinal nerves

Example

The hospital created a special exercise program that helps paraplegic patients strengthen their upper body muscles.

attributive use before noun: 'paraplegic patients'

After the motorcycle crash, the young man was left paraplegic and now uses a wheelchair.

predicative use after 'was left'

Common collocations
  • paraplegic patient
  • paraplegic athlete
  • paraplegic veteran
  • left paraplegic
  • become paraplegic
Synonyms
  • paralyzed

    broader term; can refer to any body part, not just the lower body

  • disabled

    much broader; covers all types of physical or mental impairment

  • wheelchair-bound

    often considered outdated or offensive; 'wheelchair user' is preferred

Antonyms
  • able-bodied

    describes someone without physical disability

Grammar Patterns

be + paraplegic

left + paraplegic

paraplegic + noun

Usage Note

Unlike general 'paralyzed,' 'paraplegic' specifically refers to paralysis of the lower half of the body only, not the arms. The adjective form is widely accepted in medical and news writing.

Common Mistakes

He became paraplegic after hurting his neck.
He became quadriplegic after hurting his neck.
A neck injury typically causes quadriplegia (all four limbs affected); paraplegia affects the lower body only.
The accident left her paraplegic and unable to feel her arms.
The accident left her paraplegic and unable to feel her legs.
Paraplegia specifically affects the lower body, not the arms.

paraplegic — noun

Word family

  • paraplegia
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Paralyzed' is the broadest term — it can refer to the loss of movement or feeling in any body part, whereas 'paraplegic' specifically means the lower half of the body. 'Quadriplegic' (also called tetraplegic) refers to paralysis of all four limbs, usually from a neck injury. 'Disabled' covers a much wider range of physical, mental, or sensory impairments and should not be used when a more precise term fits. 'Wheelchair-bound' is considered outdated by many disability advocates because it suggests being trapped; 'wheelchair user' or 'person who uses a wheelchair' is preferred. For example, say 'a paraplegic athlete' (adjective) or 'an athlete with paraplegia' (person-first) rather than 'a crippled athlete.'

paralyzed ↗quadriplegicdisabled ↗wheelchair-bound

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • become paraplegic
  • leave someone paraplegic

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

The word comes from Greek 'para-' meaning 'beside' or 'half' and 'plege' meaning 'stroke' or 'blow.' It entered English through medical Latin in the 1600s, originally describing a stroke victim, and later narrowed to mean paralysis of the lower body only.