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 of contradiction

• 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

According to the study authors, this creates a fundamental contradiction that the black hole seems to have grown large without first building a normal galaxy around it. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 3 Jan. 2026

Trump’s comments about Venezuelan immigrants in the United States highlight the contradictions of how his administration has largely targeted Venezuelan immigrants while also calling the country a narcostate run by a dictator. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026

Are the contradictions and chaos of anyone’s life resolvable? —Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

That view ignores the many followers of moderate Islam, such as London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who have found no contradiction between their faith and Western liberalism. —Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 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