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contradictory

Pronunciation: /kɒntrəˈdɪkt(ə)ri/

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Definition of contradictory

adjective

  • mutually opposed or inconsistent:the two studies came to contradictory conclusions
  • containing elements which are inconsistent:politically he exhibited contradictory behaviour
  • Logic (of two propositions) so related that one and only one must be true. Compare with contrary.

noun (plural contradictories)

Logic
  • a contradictory proposition.

Derivatives

contradictorily

adverb

contradictoriness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (as a term in logic): from late Latin contradictorius, from Latin contradict- 'spoken against', from the verb contradicere (see contradict)

contradictory in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of contradictory in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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