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

• 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

All of the intimacy of that and all the majesty and complexity and contradiction and controversy of the U.S. —CBS News, 6 July 2025

Baldwin recognized that Douglass had laid bare the core contradiction of American life — the sharp contrast between professed ideals of liberty and justice and the reality of racial oppression. —Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 July 2025

Janelle Hobson, who wrote about the visuals for Ms. and discussed them on NPR’s Morning Edition podcast, ascertained that the imagery could have multiple meanings: Reclamation, yes, but also an acknowledgement of all the convictions and contradictions the American flag can stand for. —Leah Faye Cooper, Vogue, 4 July 2025

Butler’s science fiction bored deeper into the cruelties and contradictions of America, and were always clear-eyed about our evils, our violent habits, and the small embers of hope in our ingenuity and resilience. —Literary Hub july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 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

Rhymes for contradiction

• antifriction
• benediction
• crucifixion
• dereliction
• interdiction
• jurisdiction
• malediction
• addiction
• affliction
• constriction
• conviction
• depiction

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