contravene
C2formal
Definition
Meaning
to do something that is prohibited by a law, rule, or agreement; to actively conflict with or violate.
To be in direct opposition to a principle, standard, or established practice.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies an active, deliberate act of violation, often against a formal prohibition. Stronger than 'break' or 'violate' as it suggests going *against* a specific directive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in meaning or usage. 'Contravene' is used in formal contexts in both varieties, especially in legal, administrative, or official language.
Connotations
Formal, official, legalistic. Often used in the context of regulations, bylaws, or codes of conduct.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech, but stable and standard in formal registers in both the UK and US. More likely in UK English in specific legal/regulatory contexts (e.g., 'contravening the Town and Country Planning Act').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + contravene + [Direct Object: law/rule/regulation/agreement]It + contravenes + [law/regulation] + to + [infinitive verb phrase]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none directly associated]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in compliance contexts: 'The proposed merger could contravene anti-monopoly legislation.'
Academic
Used in legal, political science, or ethics discussions: 'The policy contravenes international human rights law.'
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might appear in news reports: 'The protest was declared illegal for contravening public assembly laws.'
Technical
Common in legal and regulatory technical writing: 'Installing that structure would contravene local building codes.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company's actions clearly contravene the Data Protection Act.
- You cannot build an extension that contravenes planning regulations.
- This clause in the contract would contravene the Unfair Terms Regulations.
American English
- The state's new law was found to contravene the Constitution.
- Their marketing practices contravene FTC guidelines.
- Such a requirement would contravene the First Amendment.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form derived from 'contravene']
American English
- [No standard adverb form derived from 'contravene']
adjective
British English
- The act was deemed contravening. (less common, participial adjective)
- They faced a contravention notice from the council.
American English
- The contravening party is subject to penalties.
- The judge cited the contravening statute.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Smoking in this area contravenes the company's health and safety policy.
- The new policy was dropped after lawyers said it contravened EU law.
- The journalist argued that detaining him contravened his right to free speech under the charter.
- If the government proceeds, it will flagrantly contravene the terms of the international treaty signed last year.
- The tribunal found that the employer's demands contravened the basic principles of fair labour practices.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a car going 'CONTRA' (against) a 'VENE' (vein/flow) of traffic. It's going against the established flow of rules.
Conceptual Metaphor
BREAKING A LAW IS CROSSING A BOUNDARY / RULES ARE BARRIERS (to go *contra* them is to pass through).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'contribute' (делать вклад).
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'нарушать'; while similar, 'contravene' is more formal and specific to laws/rules, not promises or social norms.
- It is not the same as 'prevent' (предотвращать).
Common Mistakes
- Using it for informal rule-breaking (e.g., 'He contravened his diet' - too formal).
- Confusing spelling with 'convene' (to gather).
- Incorrect preposition: 'contravene *against* the law' (correct: contravene the law).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is 'contravene' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Contravene' is more formal and is typically used for laws, rules, and official regulations. 'Violate' has a broader range and can be used for laws, rules, privacy, trust, or peace. 'Violate' often carries a stronger sense of desecration or profound breach.
No, it is a C2-level word, used almost exclusively in formal, legal, bureaucratic, or official contexts. You will rarely hear it in everyday conversation.
No. The direct object of 'contravene' is the rule, law, or principle that is being broken (e.g., contravene the law), not the person or authority that made the rule.
The noun is 'contravention', as in 'He was fined for being in contravention of the local bylaws.'