antinomy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “antinomy” mean?
A contradiction between two ideas, principles, or conclusions that seem equally logical, reasonable, or necessary.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A contradiction between two ideas, principles, or conclusions that seem equally logical, reasonable, or necessary.
A profound and seemingly unresolvable conflict between two laws, principles, or statements that are each considered valid in themselves; often used in philosophy, law, and logic to describe fundamental oppositions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Strongly academic/philosophical in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general usage, but stable within specialised academic contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “antinomy” in a Sentence
the antinomy between X and Yan antinomy of/in ZVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “antinomy” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- antinomic
- antinomical
American English
- antinomic
- antinomical
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Core term in philosophy, law, and critical theory to describe foundational logical conflicts (e.g., Kant's Antinomies of Pure Reason).
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would likely be misunderstood.
Technical
Used in formal logic and legal theory to denote a conflict between two authoritative principles.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “antinomy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “antinomy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “antinomy”
- Misspelling as 'antimony' (the element).
- Using it to mean 'anomaly' or 'diversity'.
- Using in casual contexts where 'contradiction' or 'paradox' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An antinomy is a specific type of paradox involving a contradiction between two seemingly valid principles or conclusions derived from equally acceptable premises. All antinomies are paradoxes, but not all paradoxes are strict antinomies.
No, 'antinomy' is exclusively a noun. There is no standard verb form '*to antinomy'.
No, they have different roots. 'Antinomy' comes from Greek 'anti-' (against) + 'nomos' (law). 'Antagonism' comes from Greek 'anti-' (against) + 'agonizesthai' (to contend). The shared 'anti-' prefix gives a sense of opposition, but the core meanings are distinct.
Stress the second syllable: an-TIN-uh-mee. Be careful to pronounce the 'n' clearly to distinguish it from 'antimony' (AN-tuh-moh-nee).
A contradiction between two ideas, principles, or conclusions that seem equally logical, reasonable, or necessary.
Antinomy is usually formal, academic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANTI-NOMY' – against (anti) the law (nomos, Greek for law). It's a conflict between two seeming 'laws' or principles.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOGICAL CONFLICT IS A BATTLE/STANDOFF
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'antinomy' MOST precisely and commonly used?