contrariety: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “contrariety” mean?
The state of being contrary or opposed in nature, direction, or meaning.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of being contrary or opposed in nature, direction, or meaning.
Opposition or inconsistency between two or more things; direct opposition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Slightly more common in British academic and philosophical writing.
Connotations
Both varieties carry a formal, somewhat old-fashioned or scholarly tone.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both, but marginally higher in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “contrariety” in a Sentence
contrariety between X and Ycontrariety of X to Yin contrariety to XVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “contrariety” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - Noun only
American English
- N/A - Noun only
adverb
British English
- N/A - Noun only
American English
- N/A - Noun only
adjective
British English
- N/A - Noun only
American English
- N/A - Noun only
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in formal reports discussing conflicting objectives or market forces.
Academic
Common in philosophy, logic, law, and literary criticism to denote logical opposition.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in logic to describe the relationship between contradictory propositions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “contrariety”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “contrariety”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “contrariety”
- Confusing with 'contrary' as an adjective. Using in informal contexts. Mispronouncing stress (e.g., con-TRARI-ety).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a formal, low-frequency word used primarily in academic, philosophical, or legal contexts.
Both imply opposition. 'Contrariety' often suggests a more fundamental, diametrical, or logical opposition between natures or principles, while 'contradiction' can refer to a specific inconsistent statement or fact.
It would sound extremely formal and possibly pretentious. Synonyms like 'opposition', 'conflict', or 'difference' are far more appropriate for everyday conversation.
It is exclusively a noun. There is no verb 'to contrariety'.
The state of being contrary or opposed in nature, direction, or meaning.
Contrariety is usually formal, academic in register.
Contrariety: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒn.trəˈraɪ.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːn.trəˈraɪ.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in direct contrariety to”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CONTRARY' (opposite) + 'ETY' (state of being). A contrariety is the state of being contrary.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPPOSITION IS A FORCE (the contrariety of their wills pushed the project apart).
Practice
Quiz
'Contrariety' is most closely associated with which of the following fields?