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contradiction

n. C / U
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˌkɑntɹəˈdɪkʃən// UK //kˌɒntɹədˈɪkʃən// con·tra·dic·tion

n. a situation where two things are opposite and cannot both be true. If you say one thing but do another, that is a contradiction.

n. a combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed to one another. In logic, it refers to a proposition that is necessarily false because it contains incompatible elements.


SIMPLE

There is a contradiction between what he says and what he does.

CONTEXTUAL

The witness's second statement was in direct contradiction to the evidence found at the scene.

COMPLEX

The philosopher argued that the policy was a performative contradiction, as the act of proposing it violated the very principles the proposal sought to protect.

Origin

From Middle English contradiccioun, contradiction, from Old French contradiction, from Latin contrādictiō, from contrādīcō (“speak against”).

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'between' to compare two things, or 'to' when one thing opposes another.

Pitfall

a contradiction of his wordsa contradiction to his wordsWhen expressing that one thing opposes another, 'to' or 'between' is standard; 'of' is usually reserved for the act of contradicting someone.

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