Contradiction

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌkɒntɹəˈdɪkʃən/

Definitions

1. A statement or situation that expresses the opposite of or directly conflicts with another claim or fact
2. A situation or assertion that inherently opposes or negates another claim or statement while creating a conflict in logic or truth
3. An instance in which one statement is mutually exclusive to another, leading to a logical inconsistency or dispute

Etymology: The Latin root of "contradiction" is built from two plain parts. "Contra" means "against," and "dicere," the verb behind "contrādīcō," means "to speak" or "to say." Put together, the verb meant "speak against," which is exactly what a contradiction does: it sets one statement in opposition to another. The word reached English from Old French "contradiction," which itself came from the Latin "contrādictiō," a noun formed from that verb. English adopted it in Middle English as "contradiccioun," and the spelling settled into its modern form over the following centuries. Its core sense has stayed remarkably stable, since a contradiction has always been a statement that denies or opposes another. The word has few surprises in its history, but its structure is transparent: once you know "contra" and "dict," you can read the meaning straight off the word, a useful habit with many English words built from Latin.

Synonyms: discrepancy, inconsistency, conflict

Antonyms: agreement, conformity, consensus