contradiction
gb/kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən/ us/kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən/
B2
English
~ 7400
ellentmondás, két lábon járó ellentmondás, csupa ellentmondás, logikai ellentmondás
NOUN
B2
1
ellentmondás
B2
Usage pattern:
a contradiction between [A] and [B]
There is a clear contradiction between his public promises and his private actions.
Egyértelmű ellentmondás van a nyilvános ígéretei és a magánéleti tettei között.
The two reports are in direct contradiction, so one of them must be wrong.
A két jelentés éles ellentmondásban áll egymással, így az egyiknek tévesnek kell lennie.
Her explanation contains several contradictions that she cannot easily explain away.
Scientists are trying to resolve the contradiction between these two sets of results.
His claim to support transparency stands in contradiction to his secretive behavior.
Learner examples
There is a contradiction between what you say and what you do.
Ellentmondás van aközött, amit mondasz, és aközött, amit teszel.
The witness’s story was in contradiction to the video.
A tanú elmondása ellentmondásban állt a videófelvétellel.
We need to fix the contradiction in these two rules.
This paragraph is a contradiction of the first one.
The teacher showed us a contradiction in the argument.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *contradiction* when they only mean a simple *difference*. A contradiction is stronger: the two things cannot both be true at the same time. They also sometimes say *“the both sentences are a contradiction”* instead of *“there is a contradiction between the two sentences.”*
Meaning
conflict between facts or ideas
Collocations
direct contradiction
|apparent contradiction
|internal contradiction
|a contradiction between
|in contradiction to
|resolve a contradiction
Synonyms
inconsistency (Suggests things do not match or fit together, but may sound slightly less strong or absolute than a clear contradiction.)
|
conflict (More general; can describe clashes of interests or people as well as ideas.)
Antonyms
consistency (Describes a situation where statements or facts fit together and do not clash.)
|
agreement (Emphasizes that different statements or people say the same thing instead of opposing each other.)
Themes
logic
|thinking
|discussion
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A situation where two ideas, facts, or statements cannot both be true at the same time.
A situation in which statements, facts, beliefs, or actions are opposed to each other so that they cannot all be true or fit together logically.
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a contradiction
He’s a walking contradiction: shy in groups but fearless on stage.
Két lábon járó ellentmondás: társaságban félénk, de a színpadon félelmet nem ismer.
Her life is a contradiction, mixing extreme luxury with deep concern for the poor.
Az élete csupa ellentmondás: végletes luxus keveredik benne a szegények iránti mély törődéssel.
The company is a contradiction, promoting simplicity while selling very complex products.
Learner examples
She is a contradiction: very rich but very simple.
Ő egy két lábon járó ellentmondás: nagyon gazdag, mégis nagyon egyszerűen él.
He seems like a contradiction because he is friendly but never smiles.
Két lábon járó ellentmondásnak tűnik, mert barátságos, de sosem mosolyog.
The city is a contradiction, with old buildings next to very new ones.
His character is a contradiction of strength and fear.
To me, he is a walking contradiction.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the more general sense of a contradiction between ideas. When we call a person *a contradiction* or *a walking contradiction*, we usually mean they have surprising or opposing qualities inside one person or thing, not just that two separate statements clash.
Meaning
person or thing with opposing traits
Collocations
a walking contradiction
|a living contradiction
|a contradiction in herself
|full of contradictions
Synonyms
paradox (Often used for people or situations that seem strange because they combine opposite features; slightly more formal and abstract.)
Antonyms
straightforward person (Suggests someone whose qualities are clear and consistent, without surprising opposites.)
Themes
people
|character
|description
|core_vocabulary
|relationships
Definition
A person or thing that has opposite qualities that do not match, like being very kind and very cruel at the same time.
A person or thing that shows opposite or very different qualities that do not seem to fit together.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
3
ellentmondás
C1
Usage pattern:
to accept/brook [no] contradiction
The coach brooks no contradiction from the players during a game.
Az edző meccs közben nem tűr ellentmondást a játékosoktól.
She repeated her claim, this time without fear of contradiction.
Megismételte az állítását, ezúttal nem tartva attól, hogy bárki ellentmond neki.
His statement passed without contradiction from anyone in the room.
Learner examples
The boss accepts no contradiction in meetings.
A főnök az értekezleteken nem tűr ellentmondást.
He spoke again, this time without fear of contradiction.
Újra megszólalt, ezúttal nem tartva attól, hogy bárki ellentmond neki.
No one gave any contradiction to her story.
The teacher did not like contradiction from students.
They listened in silence, offering no contradiction.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use is common in casual speech, but it is mainly formal or written. In everyday English, people usually say *disagreement* or *arguing* instead of *contradiction* for the act itself.
Meaning
act of denying what was said
Collocations
accept no contradiction
|brook no contradiction
|meet with contradiction
|fear of contradiction
Synonyms
disagreement (More general and common; *contradiction* is stronger and more formal, and usually means saying clearly that something is not true.)
|
denial (Focuses on saying that a specific statement is not true, without necessarily implying general discussion.)
Antonyms
assent (A formal word for expressing agreement instead of opposing what was said.)
|
agreement (General term for accepting what someone has said instead of opposing it.)
Themes
discussion
|argument
|social
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The act of saying that what another person said is not true.
The act of saying that a statement someone else has made is not true, or of speaking or acting in direct opposition.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
to reach/derive a contradiction
Assume the opposite and show that this leads to a contradiction.
Tegyük fel az ellenkezőjét, és mutassuk meg, hogy ez ellentmondáshoz vezet.
In this logical system, adding that axiom produces a contradiction.
Ebben a logikai rendszerben annak az axiómának a hozzáadása ellentmondást eredményez.
The set of equations contains a contradiction, so there is no solution.
Learner examples
In this proof we try to find a contradiction.
Ebben a bizonyításban megpróbálunk ellentmondást találni.
The teacher said that a contradiction is always false.
A tanár azt mondta, hogy a logikai ellentmondás mindig hamis.
If our idea gives a contradiction, the idea is wrong.
The theory is strong because it has no contradiction.
They used contradiction to show the answer is impossible.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that in logic a *contradiction* is not just a problem but a very specific situation: something that is necessarily false because it claims both something and its opposite. They sometimes say *“small contradiction”* when they only mean a minor error or problem.
Meaning
logically impossible statement or result
Collocations
logical contradiction
|derive a contradiction
|reach a contradiction
|proof by contradiction
|leads to a contradiction
Synonyms
impossibility (General word; *contradiction* specifically means something is impossible because of its logical form.)
Antonyms
tautology (In logic, a statement that is always true, the opposite of a contradiction which is always false.)
|
consistency (In logic or math, the absence of contradictions within a system.)
Themes
logic
|mathematics
|philosophy
|science
|education
Definition
In logic or math, a result or idea that cannot be true because it says two opposite things at the same time.
In logic and mathematics, a situation or statement that is impossible to be true because it asserts both a proposition and its negation, or combines conditions that cannot all be satisfied.
Grammar
Dictionary form
contradiction
IPA
GB/kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən/
US/kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən/
Syllables & stress
con - tra - dic - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (dic)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: contradiction
- Plural: contradiction, contradictions
Word family
Forms
contradictions
noun
Core family
contradict
verb B2
contradictory
adjective B2
Related words
contrary
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
contradictorily
adverb
Expressions
a contradiction in terms
1/ə kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən ˈɪn tˈɚmz/
idiom
expression whose words oppose each other
a phrase where the words should not go together because their meanings are opposite or do not fit
Examples
- For many people, ‘honest politician’ sounds like a contradiction in terms.
- Calling that tiny room a ‘ballroom’ is almost a contradiction in terms.
- Some argue that ‘clean war’ is a contradiction in terms.
a walking contradiction
1/ə wˈɔkɪŋ kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən/
idiom
informal
person with clashing qualities
a person who has very different or opposite qualities that do not seem to fit together
Examples
- She’s a walking contradiction: super organized at work but totally chaotic at home.
- Tom is a walking contradiction, proud of his independence but always asking for help.
- As a calm but thrill‑seeking pilot, he felt like a walking contradiction.
brooks no contradiction
1/bɹˈʊks nˈoʊ kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən/
idiom
formal
does not allow disagreement
used to describe someone who will not allow any disagreement or challenge to what they say
Examples
- The director brooks no contradiction when it comes to safety rules.
- Known as a strict leader, she brooks no contradiction from her team.
in contradiction to
1/ˈɪn kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən tə/
fixed phrase
formal
in clear opposition to something
used to say that something is the opposite of, or does not agree with, something else that was said or done
Examples
- His recent comments are in contradiction to the company’s official policy.
- The court’s decision stands in contradiction to earlier rulings on the same issue.
- These results are in direct contradiction to what we found last year.
no contradiction between
1/nˈoʊ kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən bɪtwˈin/
fixed phrase
two things are not incompatible
used to say that two ideas or facts can exist together and do not clash
Examples
- There is no contradiction between loving your job and wanting more vacation time.
- She insists there is no contradiction between tradition and innovation in her work.
proof by contradiction
1/pɹˈuf bˈaɪ kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
logical method assuming the opposite
a way to prove something in math or logic by first saying it is false, then showing that this idea leads to an impossible result
Examples
- We can show that there are infinitely many prime numbers using a proof by contradiction.
- The teacher demonstrated the theorem with a simple proof by contradiction.
without fear of contradiction
1/wɪðˈaʊt fˈɪɹ əv kˌɑntɹədˈɪkʃən/
idiom
formal
say something with full confidence
used before a statement to say that you are very sure it is true and think no one can seriously disagree
Examples
- I can say, without fear of contradiction, that she is the most experienced person here.
- He stated, without fear of contradiction, that the project would finish on time.