contradictio in adjecto

noun

con·​tra·​dic·​tio in ad·​jec·​to

ˌkän‧trəˈdiktē(ˌ)ōˌinädˈyek(ˌ)tō,

-ˈdikshē(ˌ)ōˌinaˈjek-

plural contradictiones in adjecto

ˌ⸗⸗ˌ⸗⸗ˈōˌnēz-

: contradiction in terms

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, contradiction in what is added

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!