I. ˌkän.trəˈdiktərē, -k.trē, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin contradictorius, adjective
1.
a. : a word, proposition, or principle that contradicts another
b. : opposite , contrary
it is common with princes to will contradictories — Francis Bacon
2. logic
a. : a proposition so related to another that if either of the two is true the other must be false and if either is false the other must be true : a proposition having the same terms as another proposition but opposite in quality and quantity
“all a is b ” is the contradictory of “some a is not b ”
b. : a term that is the exact negative of another
“white” and “not white” are contradictories
— distinguished from contrary
II. | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷ adjective
Etymology: Late Latin contradictorius, from Latin contradictus + -orius -ory
1. : tending to contradict : having the character or qualities of contradiction
schemes … contradictory to common sense — Joseph Addison
: given to contradiction : contradictious
an irritable contradictory nature
: involving or causing contradiction
uncoordinated often contradictory , agricultural programs
2. logic : being or having the character of a contradictory
Synonyms: see opposite