definitions

contravene

[ kon-truh-veen ]
/ ˌkɒn trəˈvin /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contravene ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), con·tra·vened, con·tra·ven·ing.

to come or be in conflict with; go or act against; deny or oppose: to contravene a statement.
to violate, infringe, or transgress: to contravene the law.

RELATED WORDS

hinder, overstep, impugn, violate, repudiate, disobey, interfere, infringe, negate, breach, defy, transgress, exclude, resist, intrude, spurn, combat, cross, encroach, interpose

Nearby words

contrastive stress, contrasty, contrasuggestible, contrate, contravallation, contravene, contravention, contrayerva, contre-jour, contre-partie, contrecoup

Origin of contravene

1560–70; < Late Latin contrāvenīre, equivalent to Latin contrā against + venīre to come

Related forms

con·tra·ven·er, noun

Can be confused

contravene controvert
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contravene

British Dictionary definitions for contravene

contravene

/ (ˌkɒntrəˈviːn) /

verb (tr)

to come into conflict with or infringe (rules, laws, etc)
to dispute or contradict (a statement, proposition, etc)

Derived Forms

contravener, nouncontravention (ˌkɒntrəˈvɛnʃən), noun

Word Origin for contravene

C16: from Late Latin contrāvenīre, from Latin contra- + venīre to come
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012