What does paraphrast mean?
A paraphrast is a person who paraphrases, meaning someone who restates a statement, passage, or idea in different words while preserving its essential meaning. The term is uncommon in modern English and has a somewhat formal or literary character; most speakers would use “paraphraser” instead. A paraphrast may function as a translator of difficult material into clearer or simpler language, summarize a text, or reformulate an argument so that another audience can understand it. The word distinguishes the person performing the task from a “paraphrase,” which is the resulting rewritten expression. Although uncommon, it is useful in discussions of translation, summarization, literary adaptation, and rhetoric. Its distinctive ending also makes it memorable: a paraphrast is, quite literally, someone whose work is to paraphrase.
nounA paraphrast is a person who paraphrases, especially one whose work consists of expressing a statement or text in different words.
- A person who paraphrases; a paraphraser.
"Careful paraphrase can clarify difficult passages without changing their meaning."
"The paraphrast retained the argument while simplifying the language."
"As an experienced paraphrast, she could condense a dense report into a single readable paragraph."
The regular plural is “paraphrasts,” though the singular noun is itself uncommon.
"The two paraphrasts presented substantially different versions of the report."
Behind every clear restatement is a paraphrast, the quiet specialist of saying things another way.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does paraphrast come from?
The word was formed in English from “paraphrase” with the agent-forming suffix “-st,” meaning a person who performs the stated action. Its ultimate source is Greek, where paraphrasis denoted a paraphrase and paraphrastēs denoted one who paraphrased. Modern usage is rare, and the more transparent form “paraphraser” has largely taken its place.
How paraphrast is actually used
This is a rare, chiefly literary noun. In ordinary modern English, “paraphraser” is much more common and is normally preferred.
Easily confused with paraphrast
A paraphrase is the rewritten expression itself, whereas a paraphrast is the person who produces it.