contraction

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noun con·trac·tion \ kən-ˈtrak-shən \

Definition of contraction

1 a :the action or process of contracting

The hot metal undergoes contraction as it cools.

:the state of being contracted

b :the shortening and thickening of a functioning muscle or muscle fiber

c :a reduction in business activity or growth

d :the act of acquiring or incurring (something, such as a debt) or catching (something, such as an infection)

contraction of pneumonia

2 :a shortening of a word, syllable, or word group by omission of a sound or letter; also :a form produced by such shortening

"They'll" is a contraction for "they will."

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contractional

play \kən-ˈtrak-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

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contractive

play \kən-ˈtrak-tiv, ˈkän-ˌtrak-\ adjective

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contractionary

play \kən-ˈtrak-shə-ˌner-ē\ adjective

See contraction defined for English-language learners

See contraction defined for kids

Examples of contraction in a Sentence

The hot metal undergoes contraction as it cools.
Two teams were eliminated in the contraction of the baseball league.
She felt contractions every two minutes.

Recent Examples of contraction from the Web

She was given Pitocin to speed up her contractions, but the baby’s heart rate dropped.

— zach buchanan, Cincinnati.com, "Turner back with club after stressful paternity leave," 29 Aug. 2017
An OBGYN at the hospital examined her, and it was determined the woman was experiencing false labor contractions.

— chris ramirez, USA TODAY, "3 Texas babies born in the path of Harvey," 26 Aug. 2017
The West African nation’s economy, which vies with South Africa’s as the continent’s biggest, shrank 0.5 percent in the first three months of the year, a fifth straight quarter of contractions.

— david malingha doya, Bloomberg.com, "Nigeria's Economy May Have Grown in Second Quarter, NBS Says," 10 Aug. 2017
And any contraction can be more easily managed in the cylindrical tunnels.

— eli kintisch, Science | AAAS, "Massive balloons help polar scientists build underground tunnels," 13 July 2017
Adequate intakes are essential for blood pressure, heart rhythm, a strong immune system, energy production, bone structure and nerve and muscle contraction.

— by sheah rarback, miamiherald, "Depression may be helped by boosting your magnesium," 10 July 2017
After consuming its hydrogen and helium, the sun will undergo about 2 billion years of expansions and contractions, eventually becoming a white dwarf.

— tom skilling, chicagotribune.com, "Ask Tom: How does one describe the sun and its origins?," 6 July 2017
There’s also a small risk of infections like endometritis (inflammation of the uterine lining) or the contraction of the bacterium Clostridium Sordellii, both of which can also occur after childbirth.

— becky little, Smithsonian, "The Science Behind the “Abortion Pill”," 24 June 2017
Coinciding with a sharp drop in oil prices, those measures contributed to a 4 percent contraction in the Russian economy and sent its reserves plunging.

— ted sickinger, OregonLive.com, "Consultant arraigned in Oregon Energy Department kickback scandal," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contraction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of contraction

see ¹contract

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

contraction Synonyms

Synonyms

compacting, compaction, condensation, condensing, constricting, constriction, contracting, compression, squeeze, squeezing, telescoping

Antonyms

decompression, expansion

Related Words

abbreviation, abridgment (or abridgement), curtailment, shortening; concentration, consolidation; simplification, streamlining; decreasing, diminishment, lessening

Near Antonyms

dilation, dispersion, dissipation, scattering; distension (or distention), inflation, swelling

CONTRACTION Defined for English Language Learners

contraction

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noun

Definition of contraction for English Language Learners

: the act or process of making something smaller or of becoming smaller
medical : a movement of a muscle that causes it to become tight and that is sometimes painful; especially : a movement of muscles in the womb when a woman is giving birth to a child
: a short form of a word or word group that is made by leaving out a sound or letter

CONTRACTION Defined for Kids

contraction

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noun con·trac·tion \ kən-ˈtrak-shən \

Definition of contraction for Students

1 :the act, process, or result of making or becoming smaller or shorter and broader

contraction of a muscle

2 :a short form of a word or word group (as don't or they've) produced by leaving out a letter or letters

Medical Dictionary

contraction

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noun con·trac·tion \ kən-ˈtrak-shən \

medical Definition of contraction

1 :the action or process of contracting :the state of being contracted

contraction of hepatitis

lung expansion and contraction in breathing
—P. G. Donohue

2 :the action of a functioning muscle or muscle fiber in which force is generated accompanied especially by shortening and thickening of the muscle or muscle fiber or sometimes by its lengthening