Is 'contraposition' the same as 'contradiction'?

No. Contraposition is a logical equivalence (if P then Q ≡ if not Q then not P). A contradiction is a statement that is always false (P and not P).

Can I use 'contraposition' in everyday English?

It is not recommended. It is a highly technical term. Use 'opposite', 'contrast', or 'reverse' instead for general meanings.

Is the contrapositive always true if the original statement is true?

Yes, in classical logic, a conditional statement and its contrapositive are logically equivalent—they have the same truth value.

Is “contraposition” formal?

Contraposition is usually formal, academic, technical in register.

How do you pronounce “contraposition”?

Contraposition: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒn.trə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːn.trə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

contraposition: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˌkɒn.trə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/US/ˌkɑːn.trə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/

Formal, Academic, Technical

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “contraposition” mean?

The logical relationship where the contrapositive of a conditional statement is formed by negating and swapping its antecedent and consequent.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The logical relationship where the contrapositive of a conditional statement is formed by negating and swapping its antecedent and consequent.

A position or arrangement that is opposite or contrary to another; the act of placing in opposition or contrast.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.

Connotations

Equally formal and technical in both varieties.

Frequency

Equally low-frequency outside academic philosophy, mathematics, and computer science contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “contraposition” in a Sentence

the contraposition of X and YX stands in contraposition to Y

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

logical contrapositionlaw of contrapositionproof by contraposition

medium

apply contrapositionuse contrapositionprinciple of contraposition

weak

clear contrapositiondirect contrapositionsimple contraposition

Examples

Examples of “contraposition” in a Sentence

verb

British English

[No standard verb form]

American English

[No standard verb form]

adverb

British English

[No standard adverb form]

American English

[No standard adverb form]

adjective

British English

[No standard adjective form]

American English

[No standard adjective form]

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Common in philosophy, mathematics, logic, and computer science papers to describe a proof technique.

Everyday

Extremely rare. Would likely confuse most listeners.

Technical

Standard term in formal logic and related technical fields.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “contraposition”

Strong

transposition (in logic)

Neutral

contrapositivelogical equivalence

Weak

opposition contrast inversion

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “contraposition”

affirmation converseobversion (in logic)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “contraposition”

Confusing it with 'converse' (swapping without negating) or 'inverse' (negating without swapping).
Using it in general conversation where 'contrast' or 'opposition' is meant.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. Contraposition is a logical equivalence (if P then Q ≡ if not Q then not P). A contradiction is a statement that is always false (P and not P).
: It is not recommended. It is a highly technical term. Use 'opposite', 'contrast', or 'reverse' instead for general meanings.
: It is exclusively a noun.
: Yes, in classical logic, a conditional statement and its contrapositive are logically equivalent—they have the same truth value.
: The logical relationship where the contrapositive of a conditional statement is formed by negating and swapping its antecedent and consequent.
: Contraposition is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
: Contraposition: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒn.trə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːn.trə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“[No common idioms]”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think CONTRA (against) + POSITION (placement). It's placing the 'if' and 'then' parts of a statement in an opposite arrangement.

Conceptual Metaphor

LOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS (opposition, placement).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In logic, proving a statement by proving its is a valid method of argument.

Multiple Choice

What is the contrapositive of the statement 'If it is raining, then the ground is wet'?