contortion
Americannoun
-
the act or process of contorting.
-
the state of being contorted.
-
a contorted position.
-
something contorted or twisted, as in position or meaning.
His account of the incident was a complete contortion of fact.
noun
-
the act or process of contorting or the state of being contorted
-
a twisted shape or position
-
something twisted or out of the ordinary in character, meaning, etc
mental contortions
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of contortion
1605–15; < Latin contortiōn- (stem of contortiō ) a whirling around. See contort, -ion
Explanation
If you twist your body into a contortion, you might put one leg behind your ear, and clasp your arms behind your back. A contortion is a twisted position. Yoga can feel like a series of contortions to beginners. People who twist their bodies into contortions professionally are called contortionists. In order to become a contortionist, you need to start with a lot of flexibility and a willingness to contort your body into uncomfortable positions. You then need a lot of practice. It is not easy to achieve a perfectly freakish contortion.
Vocabulary lists containing contortion
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Twists and Turns: Tor
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He’s known for using both sides of mirrors—both reflective and matte—to make a contortion of geometric forms that curve, arc, jut and ripple.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026
This cellular contortion is a process called macropinocytosis.
From Science Daily • Dec. 5, 2024
The new show will feature aerial contortion, foot juggling, modern clowns, and a 34.6-foot unicycle—and audience members will view the show from a curtain-less 360-degree stage.
From National Geographic • Sep. 26, 2023
He would stand in front of a mirror and speak lines from Yeats and Ralph Waldo Emerson, straining to avoid the contortion of his face muscles.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 10, 2023
Then he slumped forward, into a crouch I recognized, and his pleasant smile slowly widened, grew, till it wasn’t a smile at all but a contortion of teeth, exposed and glistening.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
