contradiction

American  

[kon-truh-dik-shuhn] / ˌkɒn trəˈdɪk ʃən /

noun

1. the act of contradicting; gainsaying or opposition.

2. assertion of the contrary or opposite; denial.

3. a statement or proposition that contradicts or denies another or itself and is logically incongruous.

4. direct opposition between things compared; inconsistency.

5. a contradictory act, fact, etc.

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contradiction British  

/ ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkʃən /

noun

1. the act of going against; opposition; denial

2. a declaration of the opposite or contrary

3. a statement that is at variance with itself (often in the phrase a contradiction in terms )

4. conflict or inconsistency, as between events, qualities, etc

5. a person or thing containing conflicting qualities

6. logic a statement that is false under all circumstances; necessary falsehood

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intercontradiction
  noun

Etymology

Origin of contradiction

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English contradiccioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin contrādictiōn-, stem of contrādictiō “counterargument, objection, reply”; equivalent to contradict + -ion

Explanation

A contradiction is a situation or ideas in opposition to one another. Declaring publicly that you are an environmentalist but never remembering to take out the recycling is an example of a contradiction. A "contradiction in terms" is a common phrase used to describe a statement that contains opposing ideas. Examples of a contradiction in terms include, "the gentle torturer," "the towering midget," or "a snowy summer's day." A person can also express a contradiction, like the person who professes atheism, yet goes to church every Sunday.

Example Sentences

“It stands in contradiction to our current historical moment,” Wicks says of the show.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

"It just really tickled me - it's the contradiction," he said.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

One reason for that contradiction, the comic says, is his need to stay a relatable guy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Suu Kyi has spent around two decades of her life in detention ordered by the military -- but in a striking contradiction, she is the daughter of the founder of Myanmar's armed forces.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Setting music in stone, as it were, so that it stayed the same for each performance, year in and year out, would have struck them as a contradiction of music’s function and enjoyment.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• conflict
• difference
• disagreement
• discrepancy
• dispute
• inconsistency