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contrary

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒntrəri/
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Definition of contrary

adjective

  • 1opposite in nature, direction, or meaning:he ignored contrary advice and agreed on the deal
  • (of two or more statements, beliefs, etc.) opposed to one another:his mother had given him contrary messages
  • (of a wind) blowing in the opposite direction to one’s course; unfavourable.
  • Logic (of two propositions) so related that one or neither but not both must be true. Compare with contradictory.
  • 2 /kənˈtrɛːri/ perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired:she is sulky and contrary where her work is concerned

noun (plural contraries)

  • 1 (the contrary) the opposite:an Act applies only to the United Kingdom unless the contrary is expressed
  • 2 Logic a contrary proposition.

Phrases

contrary to

conflicting with or running counter to:contrary to his expectations, he found the atmosphere exciting

on (or quite) the contrary

used to intensify a denial of what has just been implied or stated by suggesting that the opposite is the case:there was no malice in her; on the contrary, she was very kind

to the contrary

with the opposite meaning or implication:he continued to drink despite medical advice to the contrary

Derivatives

contrarily

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒntrərɪli, kənˈtrɛːrɪli/
adverb

contrariness

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒntrərɪnɪs, kənˈtrɛːrɪnɪs/
noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French contrarie, from Latin contrarius, from contra 'against'

contrary in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of contrary in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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