# contracted

/ˈkɑntɹæktəd/ (US) · /kəntɹˈæktɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/contracted
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. caught an illness

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to have caught a disease or illness.

For teachers: to have become infected with a disease or medical condition. Transitive — requires the name of the illness as a direct object.

- He contracted a rare fever while traveling through the tropical jungle.
- The patient reportedly contracted the virus during a period of high community transmission, despite having no known direct contact with infected individuals.

### 2. became smaller

verb · CEFR B2

became shorter, tighter, or smaller in size.

For teachers: underwent a reduction in size, extent, or volume. Intransitive in this sense.

- The metal cooled and contracted slightly as the temperature dropped.
- As the muscle fibers contracted, the limb moved upward in a smooth, controlled motion that demonstrated the athlete's recovery.

### 3. agreed by legal document

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

agreed upon in a formal or legal way.

For teachers: established or settled by a formal contract or legal agreement.

- The company failed to provide the contracted services on time.
- The dispute arose when the developer attempted to alter the contracted specifications without seeking prior approval from the municipal planning board.

### 4. shortened word forms

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

shortened by leaving out letters, like 'don't' instead of 'do not'.

For teachers: referring to a word or phrase that has been shortened by the omission of internal letters. Used primarily in linguistics.

- In casual speech, people often use contracted forms like 'I'm' or 'we'll'.
- The professor noted that while contracted forms are standard in spoken English, they should be avoided in highly formal academic dissertations.

## Examples

- He contracted a mild flu during his winter vacation.
- The local health department reported that several residents had contracted the virus after attending the crowded festival.
- As the global economy slowed, the manufacturing sector contracted for the third consecutive month, leading to widespread concerns about a potential recession.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.