contrarian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to semi-formal; common in business, finance, politics, and intellectual discourse.
Quick answer
What does “contrarian” mean?
A person who deliberately takes an opposing view or adopts a position contrary to the majority.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who deliberately takes an opposing view or adopts a position contrary to the majority.
A person, especially in financial or intellectual contexts, who actively opposes or rejects popular opinion, consensus, or prevailing trends, often as a strategy or philosophy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition. Usage is equally common in both financial and general contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with financial investment strategy in American usage. In British usage, may be used slightly more in political/journalistic contexts.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “contrarian” in a Sentence
[be] a contrarian[adopt/take] a contrarian position/view[known as] a contrarianVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “contrarian” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Verb form not standard. Use 'to be contrarian' or 'to take a contrarian view')
American English
- (Verb form not standard. Use 'to be contrarian' or 'to take a contrarian view')
adverb
British English
- (Not standard. Use 'contrarily' or rephrase.)
American English
- (Not standard. Use 'contrarily' or rephrase.)
adjective
British English
- His contrarian instincts led him to champion the unpopular policy.
- She took a thoroughly contrarian position on the Brexit debate.
American English
- The fund manager is known for his contrarian investment strategy.
- It was a contrarian move to sell tech stocks when everyone else was buying.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
An investor who buys shares in companies that are currently out of favour with the market.
Academic
A scholar who challenges a dominant theoretical paradigm or established consensus within a field.
Everyday
A person who habitually disagrees with the prevailing opinion in a group discussion.
Technical
Less common as a technical term outside of behavioural finance, where it denotes a specific investment strategy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “contrarian”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “contrarian”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “contrarian”
- Confusing 'contrarian' (noun/adjective) with 'contrary' (adjective only). 'He is very contrarian' (acceptable) vs. 'He has a contrarian opinion' (standard).
- Misspelling as 'contrairian' or 'contrarien'.
- Using it to mean simply 'argumentative' or 'stubborn' without the element of opposing popular opinion.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. It can be negative (implying stubborn opposition for its own sake) or positive (implying independent, critical thinking), depending on context and tone.
A sceptic questions beliefs or evidence, demanding proof. A contrarian actively adopts a position opposite to the majority, regardless of initial personal belief. A contrarian can be a sceptic, but not all sceptics are contrarians.
No, 'contrarian' is a noun and adjective. The related verb is 'to contradict' or phrases like 'to take a contrarian view'. The non-standard verb 'to contrarian' is occasionally seen but is not accepted in formal use.
It derives from the word 'contrary' (from Latin 'contrarius') with the agent-noun suffix '-ian', first attested in the mid-19th century. Its use in finance became prominent in the late 20th century.
A person who deliberately takes an opposing view or adopts a position contrary to the majority.
Contrarian is usually formal to semi-formal; common in business, finance, politics, and intellectual discourse. in register.
Contrarian: in British English it is pronounced /kɒnˈtrɛːrɪən/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈtrɛriən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Swim against the tide (related concept)”
- “Go against the grain (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CONTRARY + -IAN (like a 'librarian' of contrary opinions).
Conceptual Metaphor
INVESTMENT/THINKING IS A DIRECTION (going against the current/market).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'contrarian' most precisely and commonly used?