Added 9 October 2026
contradictory
/ˌkɒntɹəˈdɪkt(ə)ɹi/ noun
In Latin: contrādictōrius Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about contradictory at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Two propositions are contradictories if both cannot be true (or both cannot be false) at the same time.
adjective
-
Of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true and both cannot be false.
`perfect' and `imperfect' are contradictory terms
- That confounds or contradicts or confuses.
-
In disagreement.
the figures are at odds with our findings
Origin
Borrowed from Late Latin contradictorius, from Latin contradico. Equivalent to contradict + -ory.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)