contra

1 of 3

preposition

con·​tra ˈkän-trə 

1

: against

—used chiefly in the phrase pro and contra

2

: in opposition or contrast to

contra

2 of 3

noun

con·​tra ˈkän-trə 

ˈkōn-,

-ˌträ 

: a member of a guerrilla group opposed to the Sandinista government in Nicaragua in the 1980s

contra-

3 of 3

prefix

1

: against : contrary : contrasting

contradistinction

2

: pitched below normal bass

contrabassoon

Synonyms

Preposition

• against
• agin [dialect]
• anti

Examples of contra in a Sentence

Preposition

a roundup of editorials pro and contra the proposed constitutional amendment

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What’s important is that contra what Powell and Sternberg contend, the Fed can’t increase or shrink credit on their best day. —John Tamny, Forbes, 7 May 2023

The Charlotte contra-dance community was the best. —Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2021

Use it to guide efficient shopping or relish in your contra-zeitgeist comforts. —David Yanofsky, Quartz, 10 Apr. 2020

For unnatural acts: for broadcasting old seed, tired seed, seed that does not quicken, contra naturam. —Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

Middle English, borrowed from Latin contrā "opposite, facing, against" — more at contra-

Noun

borrowed from American Spanish, short for contrarrevolucionario "counterrevolutionary"

Prefix

borrowed from Latin contrā-, prefixal use of contrā, adverb and preposition, "opposite, facing, against," going back to *com-ter-ād, feminine ablative singular of *com-ter-os, presumably "the other of a pair facing each other, the one opposite," from com- com- + -ter-, suffix marking contrast and differentiation

Note: Latin contrā belongs to a set of spatial adverbs ending in -rā or -trā, as suprā "at a higher position, above," infrā "at a lower position, below," extrā "on the outside, beyond," ultrā "on the far side, farther off." Unlike these forms, however, contrā lacks a corresponding comparative adjective (superior, inferior, exterior, ulterior) or positive adjective (superus "situated above," inferus "situated below").

First Known Use

Preposition

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1981, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing contra

• contra dance
• per contra

Kids Definition

contra-

prefix

1

: against : contrary : contrasting

2

: pitched below normal bass

contrabassoon

Etymology

Prefix

from Latin contra "against, opposite"

Legal Definition

contra

1 of 2 preposition

con·​tra ˈkän-trə 

: in opposition or contrast to

contra

2 of 2 adjective

: placed or set in opposition

contra parties

Etymology

Preposition

Latin