contradiction

[ kon-truh-dik-shuhn ]

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.

contradiction

/ 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

Other Words From

• inter·contra·diction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contradiction¹

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

The film around her is itself built on a fault line of contradictions — it’s at once tepid and sledgehammer-insistent, a slab of decadent milquetoast.

From Los Angeles Times

Barton, who met with Knightley early in the writing process, felt the actor was uniquely capable of capturing Helen’s numerous contradictions.

From Los Angeles Times

I was really inspired by the concept of surveillance, as well as the idea of being perceived and how we grapple with the contradictions and paradoxes of that, which is very “Quantum Baby”-esque.

From Los Angeles Times

"The government announces provisional figures and someone comes up with other figures, where is the contradiction? We didn't say that these are final figures," he was quoted as saying.

From BBC

A lot of who I am on television and who I am in real life is a contradiction.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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