contraction

American  

[kuhn-trak-shuhn] / kənˈtræk ʃən /

noun

• contractions
  plural

1. an act or instance of contracting or the quality or state of being contracted.

   The contraction of the ship’s metal fastenings and consequent snapping of the wood caused cracking sounds during the cold night.

2. a shortened form of a word or group of words, with the omitted letters often replaced in written English by an apostrophe, as e'er for ever, isn't for is not, I'd for I would.

3. Physiology.

   1. the thickening and shortening of a muscle.

      Myosin is a protein in muscles, working together with actin to produce muscle contraction.

   2. one in an often rhythmic series of such muscular changes, especially in the wall of the uterus during labor.

      When I got to the hospital, my labor was in full force with only 10 seconds between contractions.

4. a restriction or withdrawal, as of currency or of funds available as call money.

5. a decrease in economic and industrial activity (opposed to expansion).

   The contraction that became the Great Depression began in the United States and spread around the globe.

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contraction British  

/ kənˈtrækʃən /

noun

1. an instance of contracting or the state of being contracted

2. physiol any normal shortening or tensing of an organ or part, esp of a muscle, e.g. during childbirth

3. pathol any abnormal tightening or shrinking of an organ or part

4. a shortening of a word or group of words, often marked in written English by an apostrophe

   I've come for I have come

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contraction Scientific  

/ kən-trăk′shən /

1. The shortening and thickening of a muscle for the purpose of exerting force on or causing movement of a body part.

2. See more at muscle

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contraction Cultural  

1. A word produced by running two or more words together and leaving out some of the letters or sounds. For example, isn't is a contraction of is not.

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Usage

Contractions such as isn't, couldn't, can't, weren't, he'll, they're occur chiefly, although not exclusively, in informal speech and writing. They are common in personal letters, business letters, journalism, and fiction; they are rare in scientific and scholarly writing. Contractions occur in formal writing mainly as representations of speech.

Discover More

An apostrophe is generally used in contractions to show where letters or sounds have been left out.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• contractiveness
  noun
• noncontraction
  noun
• overcontraction
  noun
• recontraction
  noun
• contractional
  adjective
• contractive
  adjective
• contractively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• contractions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of contraction

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Old French, from Latin contractiōn-, stem of contractiō, equivalent to contract(us) “drawn together, restricted,” past participle of contrahere + -iōn- noun suffix; see contract, -ion

Explanation

A contraction is the act of decreasing the size of something or shortening it, or it can be the process of becoming smaller or compressed. The two most well-known uses of contraction involve muscles and words. A contraction of the muscle tenses it or shortens it, like when you're standing in the mirror flexing and admiring yourself. On the other hand, a contraction can also be two words that are combined, with a few letters often replaced by an apostrophe, like when we change do and not into don't.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

contraction contractions

The ISM reported that 20% of the manufacturing GDP last month had an index reading that signaled contraction, up from 5% in June.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

The group said the chemical industry accounted for most of the contraction, attributing the weakness to the rising price of oil, which many companies use as their primary feedstock for chemicals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Professor Gaztañaga added: "Singularities often signal that our theoretical description has reached its limits. A bounce provides a way for the Universe to transition from contraction to expansion without requiring new exotic physics."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

During contraction, quantum pressure could eventually become strong enough to stop the collapse and push the cosmos into a new period of expansion.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

Meanwhile the selfgravity of the Sun will force a renewed contraction of its helium- rich core and a further increase in its interior temperatures and pressures.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

When the cerebellum is disrupted, people can experience symptoms including painful muscle contractions, abnormal postures, and uncontrollable shaking.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 1, 2026

In the immediate vicinity of the conflict, the bank expects to see economic contractions in Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar of 8.9%, 6.4% and 5.7% respectively.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

May Kyut Mon, 29, screams as her contractions increase.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026

It is used to end pregnancies through 10 weeks gestation in combination with the drug misoprostol, which stimulates contractions and softens the cervix, allowing tissue to expel.

From Barron's ● May 10, 2026

Shortened words and phrases are called contractions; there’s a list of them on pages 70-71.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

• decrease
• deflation
• recession
• reduction
• shrinkage