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

• 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

Example Sentences

What exactly "running the country" actually means is unclear, but the pledge represents an abrupt change of course for the president, rife with contradictions and daunting obstacles.

From BBC

That prospect sharpens the contradiction at the heart of South African Test cricket.

From BBC

Graham Greene dissects the human heart, laying bare its irreconcilable contradictions.

From The Wall Street Journal

To explain this contradiction, the team proposed a new explanation rooted in environmental change.

From Science Daily

West End Girl’ is an active listening experience where one must sift through the many contradictions, confessions and piping hot, unfiltered tea.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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