contradiction
UK: ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkʃən | US: ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃən
n. a combination of statements, ideas, or features that are opposed to one another
n. the act of saying something that is opposite or very different in meaning to something else
n. (logic) a situation in which inconsistent assertions are made
The word "contradiction" originates from Latin contradictio, combining contra- (against) and dicere (to say). The morpheme contra- persists in English as a prefix meaning "opposite" (e.g., contrast), while dict- appears in words like dictate and predict. The suffix -ion nominalizes the action, forming a term for the act of asserting opposing statements. Over time, its meaning expanded to encompass logical inconsistency and rhetorical opposition.
His argument was full of contradictions, weakening his position.
There is a clear contradiction between her words and actions.
The witness’s testimony was dismissed due to its contradiction of established facts.
Philosophers often explore the contradiction between free will and determinism.
The policy’s goals seemed a contradiction—promoting growth while cutting resources.