contradiction

noun

con·​tra·​dic·​tion ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-shən 

1

: act or an instance of contradicting

the defendant's contradiction of the plaintiff's accusations

2

a

: a proposition, statement, or phrase that asserts or implies both the truth and falsity of something

… both parts of a contradiction cannot possibly be true …

—Thomas Hobbes

b

: a statement or phrase whose parts contradict each other

a round square is a contradiction in terms

3

a

: logical incongruity

b

: a situation in which inherent factors, actions, or propositions are inconsistent or contrary to one another

Synonyms

• dichotomy
• incongruity
• paradox

Examples of contradiction in a Sentence

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

Her rebuttal contained many contradictions to my arguments.

There have been some contradictions in his statements.

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

Her statements are mired in contradiction.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Walter Salles reflects our parallel contradictions. —Armond White, National Review, 7 Feb. 2025

Deep Space Nine may have a cult following among the franchise’s fans, but those who make Star Trek today seem to have learned the wrong lessons from it, gobbling up the series’ darkness but forgoing its soulfulness and wonderful contradictions. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025

If the cultural resistance to Trump has in fact fallen into disrepair, these contradictions can be credited as catalysts. —Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025

Truthfully, Diego Carlos was a curious contradiction. —Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contradiccioun "objection, opposition, contradiction in logic" borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French contradiction, borrowed from Latin contrādictiōn-, contrādictiō "act of speaking in opposition, counterargument" (Late Latin also "contradiction in logic," after Greek antíphasis), from contrādic-, variant stem of contrādīcere "to speak against, object to" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at contradict

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing contradiction

• contradiction in terms
• self-contradiction
• without fear of contradiction

Kids Definition

contradiction

noun

con·​tra·​dic·​tion ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-shən 

1

: something (as a statement) that contradicts something else

2

: a condition in which things oppose each other