contrivance
gb/kəntɹˈaɪvəns/ us/kəntɹˈaɪvəns/
C1
English
~ 9200
szerkezet, mesterkedés, konstrukció, mesterkélt megoldás, erőltetett fordulat, leleményesség
NOUN
C1
1
szerkezet
B1
Usage pattern:
a contrivance for [verb+ing] [something]
The kitchen is full of modern contrivances to make cooking easier.
A konyha tele van modern szerkezetekkel, amelyek megkönnyítik a főzést.
He showed me a simple contrivance for lifting water from the well.
Megmutatott egy egyszerű szerkezetet, amellyel vizet lehet felhúzni a kútból.
The lock is opened by a curious contrivance hidden inside the door.
This folding bed is a neat contrivance that saves a lot of space.
Early cameras were heavy contrivances that had to be carried on a tripod.
Learner examples
She built a small contrivance to water the plants.
Épített egy kis szerkezetet a növények öntözésére.
This contrivance lets you open the window from your bed.
Ez a szerkezet lehetővé teszi, hogy az ágyból kinyisd az ablakot.
The old man made a wooden contrivance to fix his broken chair.
My brother loves making strange contrivances in the garage.
The shop sells many kitchen contrivances for home cooks.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "contrivance" with "convenience" because they look similar. A contrivance is the device or tool itself, while convenience is the state of being easy or comfortable.
Meaning
clever device or gadget
Collocations
clever contrivance
|mechanical contrivance
|ingenious contrivance
|a little contrivance
|a contrivance for opening [something]
|complex contrivance
Synonyms
device (Most general and common; does not suggest being especially clever or unusual unless modified.)
|
gadget (Often smaller and more informal, sometimes with a slightly playful tone.)
Antonyms
natural object (Contrasts a man-made, designed device with something that occurs naturally.)
Themes
technology
|daily_life
|science
Definition
A machine or tool that someone has made, usually in a clever or special way, to do a particular job.
A device, machine, or piece of equipment that has been invented and arranged in a clever or unusual way for a particular purpose.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
mesterkedés
C1
konstrukció
B2
Usage pattern:
a contrivance to [verb] [something]
The tax break is a legal contrivance that mainly benefits large corporations.
Az adókedvezmény egy olyan jogi konstrukció, amely főként a nagyvállalatoknak kedvez.
By some clever contrivance, he managed to delay the vote for another year.
Valami ügyes mesterkedéssel sikerült még egy évvel elhalasztania a szavazást.
The committee saw the proposal as a political contrivance to gain more power.
Her apology felt like a contrivance to avoid taking real responsibility.
The new rule is a contrivance to keep smaller competitors out of the market.
Learner examples
The offer was just a contrivance to get more money from customers.
Az ajánlat csak egy mesterkedés volt, amellyel több pénzt akartak kicsalni a vásárlókból.
They used a legal contrivance to pay less tax.
Jogi konstrukciót használtak, hogy kevesebb adót fizessenek.
His story seemed like a contrivance, not the truth.
The plan was a clever contrivance to win the game.
This rule is a contrivance to stop new people from joining.
Common mistake:
Learners may use "contrivance" when they only mean a normal plan. "Contrivance" usually suggests something unusually clever, artificial, or possibly dishonest, not just any plan or idea.
Meaning
clever, often artificial plan
Collocations
legal contrivance
|ingenious contrivance
|political contrivance
|through some contrivance
|an obvious contrivance
|a contrivance to avoid [something]
Synonyms
scheme (Often suggests secret or dishonest planning more strongly than "contrivance".)
|
device (In formal writing, can also mean a planned method; slightly broader and more neutral in tone.)
|
artifice (Stresses trickery and deception more than careful arrangement.)
Antonyms
straightforwardness (Lack of hidden planning or artificial methods; everything is open and simple.)
Themes
politics
|law
|communication
|daily_life
|work
Definition
A special plan or way of doing something, made with a lot of thought, sometimes in a fake or not completely honest way.
A clever or carefully arranged plan, method, or means for achieving something, often suggesting that it is artificial, forced, or slightly dishonest.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] contrivance in the plot
The long-lost twin is such a tired contrivance in soap operas.
A rég elveszett ikertestvér annyira elcsépelt, erőltetett fordulat a szappanoperákban.
Critics attacked the ending as a clumsy contrivance designed to please the audience.
A kritikusok a befejezést a közönség kedvéért beleerőltetett, ügyetlen mesterkélt megoldásként bírálták.
Her illness felt like a narrative contrivance rather than a believable event.
The flashback sequence is a clever contrivance to explain his motivations.
The coincidence that brings all the characters together is a clear contrivance.
Learner examples
The happy ending felt like a contrivance.
A boldog befejezés mesterkélt megoldásnak hatott.
The surprise meeting in the movie was an obvious contrivance.
A filmben a váratlan találkozás nyilvánvalóan erőltetett fordulat volt.
That part of the story is just a contrivance to make us cry.
The writer used a contrivance to bring the two lovers back together.
Many viewers thought the death scene was a plot contrivance.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "contrivance" in this sense is positive, meaning simply "clever." While it can be neutral, it often suggests that something feels fake or is too neatly arranged.
Meaning
artificial device in a story
Collocations
narrative contrivance
|plot contrivance
|dramatic contrivance
|clumsy contrivance
|an obvious contrivance
|mere contrivance
Synonyms
plot device (Neutral term for anything used to move a plot forward; does not itself suggest being forced or unbelievable.)
|
gimmick (More informal and critical, suggesting a cheap or showy trick.)
Antonyms
organic development (Describes a story element that grows naturally from characters and events, not something obviously forced.)
Themes
literature
|media
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Definition
A part of a story or argument that feels made up only to make something happen, not because it is natural or real.
An obviously artificial or forced element in the structure of a story, play, film, argument, or similar work, used to produce a particular effect or result.
NOUN
C2
FORMAL
4
With patience and contrivance, they turned the small room into a comfortable office.
Türelemmel és leleményességgel kényelmes irodává alakították a kis szobát.
The project was completed more by human contrivance than by modern technology.
A projekt inkább emberi leleményességgel valósult meg, mint modern technológiával.
Only great effort and contrivance allowed them to stay within budget.
Through sheer contrivance he balanced work, study, and family life.
The survivors relied on their own contrivance to find food and water.
Learner examples
With much contrivance, they finished the job on time.
Nagy leleményességgel időben befejezték a munkát.
They used their own contrivance to live in the small space.
A saját leleményességükre támaszkodtak, hogy elférjenek a kis helyen.
By hard work and contrivance, she passed the exam.
Human contrivance can solve many problems.
They survived by contrivance and courage.
Common mistake:
This sense is less common, and learners may overuse it instead of more natural words like "ingenuity" or "creativity". In modern English, those alternatives are usually better choices.
Meaning
ingenuity or skill in planning
Collocations
human contrivance
|with much contrivance
|by contrivance and effort
|resource and contrivance
Synonyms
ingenuity (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and often more positive.)
|
resourcefulness (Focuses more on solving practical problems with limited means.)
Antonyms
incompetence (Lack of the skill needed to plan or invent things successfully.)
Themes
personality
|work
|core_vocabulary
|education
Definition
The skill of thinking in a clever way to make or plan something.
The quality or ability of using skill and clever thinking to plan, arrange, or invent things effectively.
Grammar
Dictionary form
contrivance
IPA
GB/kəntɹˈaɪvəns/
US/kəntɹˈaɪvəns/
Syllables & stress
con - triv - ance (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (triv)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: contrivance
- Plural: contrivance, contrivances
Word family
Forms
contrivances
noun
Core family
contrive
verb C1
contrived
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
uncontrived
adjective
Advanced or less common
contriver
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.