(ˌ)pərˈkän.trə, per-, -kȯn.(ˌ)trä, -kōn.(ˌ)trä adverb
Etymology: Latin
1.
a. : on the contrary
per contra I don't ask you to forget but to remember — J.H.Wheelwright
b. : on the other hand : by way of contrast
the female is generally drab … the male, per contra, brilliant — Julian Huxley
2. : as an offset — compare contra III 2