con·tra·dis·tinc·tion
ˌkän-trə-di-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən 
: distinction by means of contrast
painting in contradistinction to sculpture
contradistinctively
adverb
con·tra·dis·tinc·tive
¦kän-trə-di-¦stiŋ(k)-tiv
: having the quality of contradistinction : serving to contradistinguish
contradistinctively
adverb
Examples of contradistinction in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Will Self,
Harper's Magazine,
23 Nov. 2021
This is in contradistinction to the comic book version, created by writer Peter Hogan and artist Steve Parkhouse.
—
Tribune News Service,
cleveland,
6 Feb. 2021
That is in contradistinction to Cambrian fossils, among which are found representatives of all the main animal groups (annelids, arthropods, brachiopods, chordates, cnidarians, echinoderms, molluscs and so on) that are around today.
—
The Economist,
7 June 2018
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Noun
The similarity between the family tree of trauma and that of humanity itself cannot be ignored: in both—and in contradistinction to those of other species as a rule—initial diversity is pruned away until only one exemplar remains.
—
Will Self,
Harper's Magazine,
23 Nov. 2021
This is in contradistinction to the comic book version, created by writer Peter Hogan and artist Steve Parkhouse.
—
Tribune News Service,
cleveland,
6 Feb. 2021
That is in contradistinction to Cambrian fossils, among which are found representatives of all the main animal groups (annelids, arthropods, brachiopods, chordates, cnidarians, echinoderms, molluscs and so on) that are around today.
—
The Economist,
7 June 2018
Cite this Entry
“Contradistinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contradistinction. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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