con·tra·dic·tion

con·tra·dic·tion
/ˌkɑːntrəˈdıkʃən/ noun, pl -tions
1 : the act of saying something that is opposite or very different in meaning to something else
[count]

No one was surprised by the defendant's contradiction of the plaintiff's accusations.

Her rebuttal contained many contradictions to my arguments.

[noncount]

I think I can say without fear of contradiction [=I can say with absolute certainty] that this year has been very successful for our company.

2 : a difference or disagreement between two things which means that both cannot be true
[count]

There have been some contradictions in his statements.

There is a contradiction between what he said yesterday and what he said today.

[noncount]

Her statements are mired in contradiction.

What he said yesterday is in direct contradiction to what he said today.

: a phrase that contains words which have very different or opposite meanings

I think “working vacation” is a contradiction in terms.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • con|tra|dic|tion — «KON truh DIHK shuhn», noun. 1. the act of denying what has been said; saying the opposite: »The expert spoke without fear of contradiction by his listeners. 2. a statement or act that contradicts another; denial: »His complete contradiction was… …   Useful english dictionary

  • self-con|tra|dic|tion — «SEHLF KON truh DIHK shuhn», noun. 1. contradiction of oneself or itself. 2. a statement containing elements that are contradictory …   Useful english dictionary

  • tion — ab·bre·vi·a·tion; ab·di·ca·tion; ab·duc·tion; ab·er·ra·tion; ab·er·ra·tion·al; ab·jec·tion; ab·junc·tion; ab·ju·ra·tion; ab·lac·ta·tion; ab·la·tion; ab·lu·tion; ab·mi·gra·tion; ab·ne·ga·tion; ab·o·li·tion; ab·o·li·tion·ary; ab·o·li·tion·dom;… …   English syllables

  • dic — ad·dic·tion; ae·dic·u·la; ae·dic·u·lar; an·a·car·dic; ap·o·dic·tic; ap·pen·dic·u·lar; ap·pen·dic·u·la·ta; ap·pen·dic·u·late; ar·che·dic·ty·on; as·ci·dic·o·lous; as·dic; ben·e·dic·tin·ism; ben·e·dic·tion; ben·e·dic·tive; ben·e·dic·to·ry;… …   English syllables

  • con — con·acre; con·cat·e·nate; con·cave; con·ceal·er; con·ceit; con·cen·trate; con·cen·tra·tor; con·cen·tric; con·cep·tual; con·cern; con·cern·ing; con·cert; con·cer·tante; con·cer·ti·na; con·ces·sion·ary; con·cha; con·cin·nate; con·com·i·tant;… …   English syllables

  • tra — in·tra·bi·on·tic; in·tra·cartilaginous; in·tra·cav·i·tar·i·ly; in·tra·cav·i·tary; in·tra·cellular; in·tra·cerebral; in·tra·cervical; in·tra·chordal; in·tra·cisternal; in·tra·city; in·tra·coastal; in·tra·company; in·tra·continental;… …   English syllables

  • contradiction — con·tra·dic·tion …   English syllables

  • contradiction — con|tra|dic|tion [ˌkɔntrəˈdıkʃən US ˌka:n ] n 1.) a difference between two statements, beliefs, or ideas about something that means they cannot both be true ▪ apparent contradictions in the defendant s testimony contradiction between ▪ a… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • contradiction — con|tra|dic|tion [ ,kantrə dıkʃən ] noun count or uncount ** a difference in two or more statements, ideas, stories, etc. that makes it impossible for both or all of them to be true: They appeared unaware of the contradictions in their argument.… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • contradiction — con•tra•dic•tion [[t]ˌkɒn trəˈdɪk ʃən[/t]] n. 1) the act of contradicting 2) assertion of the contrary or opposite; denial 3) pho a statement or proposition that contradicts or denies another or itself and is logically incongruous 4) direct… …   From formal English to slang

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