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• contra
  contra

  preposition

  against; in opposition or contrast to.
• contra-
  contra-

  a prefix meaning “against,” “opposite,” “opposing”.

contra

¹ American  

[kon-truh] / ˈkɒn trə /

preposition

1. against; in opposition or contrast to.

   Consider the problems of the teenager contra those of the adult.

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adverb

1. contrariwise; on or to the contrary.

contra ² American  

[kon-truh, kawn-trah] / ˈkɒn trə, ˈkɔn trɑ /

noun

contras plural

1. (often initial capital letter) a member of a counterrevolutionary guerrilla group in Nicaragua.

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contra- ³ American  

1. a prefix meaning “against,” “opposite,” “opposing”.

   contradistinction, contraindicate.

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contra- ⁴ American  

1. a prefix meaning “pitched lower than” the voice or instrument specified by the following element.

   contralto, contrabassoon.

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contra- British  

prefix

1. against; contrary; opposing; contrasting

   contraceptive

   contradistinction

2. (in music) pitched below

   contrabass

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Etymology

Origin of contra¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin contrā

Origin of contra²

First recorded in 1980–85; from Central American Spanish, shortening of contrarrevolucionario “counterrevolutionary”

Origin of contra-³

< Late Latin, Latin, prefixal use of adverb and preposition contrā

Origin of contra-⁴

< Italian < Latin; see contra- ¹ ( def. ), counterpoint

Example Sentences

Giraffes, contra Lamarck, didn’t reach for high leaves, develop long necks and then pass those necks on to their descendants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Según cuenta la leyenda, frotar un boleto contra la figurita de un pájaro cantor que hay dentro de la tienda aumentará las posibilidades de que el comprador cobre el premio.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2025

El otoño anterior, su defensa del título se esfumó contra los Atlanta Braves, un equipo menos favorito, en la Serie de Campeonato de la Liga Nacional.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2025

Desde entonces, un juez ha retirado los cargos contra al menos cinco de los investigadores, y Sheinbaum Pardo ha criticado los cargos como “excesivos”.

From Science Magazine • May 8, 2024

I would not have written this book if I did not believe, contra Wilde, that many principles of style really can be taught.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• antithesis
• contrary