adj · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌpa.ɹə.sɪm.pəˈθɛt.ɪk/
General-American:/ˌpɛɹ.ə.sɪm.pəˈθɛt.ɪk/
General-American:/ˌpæɹ.ə.sɪm.pəˈθɛt.ɪk/
rhymes with -ɛtɪk
CMU ARPABET:P EH2 R AH0 S IH2 M P AH0 TH EH1 T IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or relating to the part of the autonomic nervous system that inhibits or opposes the effects of the sympathetic nervous system. It consists of nerves arising from the brain and the lower end of the spinal cord and supplying the internal organs, blood vessels, and glands.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective
Meaning 4
of or relating to the parasympathetic nervous system
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
originates in the brain stem and lower part of the spinal cord; opposes physiological effects of the sympathetic nervous system: stimulates digestive secretions; slows the heart; constricts the pupils; dilates blood vessels
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: parasympathetic nervous system
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: nervous system, systema nervosum
History
Etymology
From para- (“beside, adjacent to”) + sympathetic, because some of these nerves run alongside sympathetic nerves.
Across languages
Translations
10 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
parasimpàtic
— relating to part of the autonomic nervous system
Chinese Mandarin:
副交感的
(fùjiāogǎnde)
— relating to part of the autonomic nervous system
French:
parasympathique
— relating to part of the autonomic nervous system
Greek:
παρασυμπαθητικός
(parasympathitikós)
— relating to part of the autonomic nervous system
Hungarian:
paraszimpatikus
— relating to part of the autonomic nervous system
Italian:
parasimpatico
— relating to part of the autonomic nervous system
Northern Kurdish:
parasîmpasawî
— relating to part of the autonomic nervous system
Polish:
przywspółczulny
— relating to part of the autonomic nervous system
Spanish:
parasimpático
— relating to part of the autonomic nervous system
Swedish:
parasympatisk
— relating to part of the autonomic nervous system
