Don't call me stupid - unless you're my husband

What the heck's a paradigm? How am i supposed to write a 250 word abstract about it when i don't even know what it is? I'm going to look it up on the trusty internet...

Merriam-Webster Online

Turns out it is either an example or some philosopical/theoretical thing. I am pretty sure they don't mean the latter in this case. Why the heck wouldn't they just say example!!!