self-contradiction: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Academic
Quick answer
What does “self-contradiction” mean?
A logical statement, argument, or situation that contains two or more parts that directly oppose or deny each other, making the whole inconsistent or illogical.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A logical statement, argument, or situation that contains two or more parts that directly oppose or deny each other, making the whole inconsistent or illogical.
An instance in which a person's actions, statements, or beliefs are inconsistent or directly conflict with one another, revealing a lack of coherence or integrity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The hyphenated form is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a strong negative connotation of logical fallacy or intellectual dishonesty.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American academic and political discourse, but the difference is minimal.
Grammar
How to Use “self-contradiction” in a Sentence
[subject] is a self-contradiction[subject] involves/contains a self-contradictionto accuse [someone] of self-contradictionto fall into self-contradictionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-contradiction” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The proposal utterly self-contradicts its stated aims.
- He tends to self-contradict under pressure.
American English
- The policy completely self-contradicts its own principles.
- She often self-contradicts within the same paragraph.
adverb
British English
- He argued self-contradictorily for over an hour.
- The document was self-contradictorily phrased.
American English
- She spoke self-contradictorily about her intentions.
- The rules are written self-contradictorily.
adjective
British English
- His argument was self-contradictory and thus unconvincing.
- A self-contradictory statement cannot be true.
American English
- The witness gave a self-contradictory testimony.
- It's a self-contradictory position to hold.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in analysing flawed business plans or corporate communications where stated goals conflict with announced actions. 'The CEO's speech was a self-contradiction, demanding austerity while announcing executive bonuses.'
Academic
Core term in logic, philosophy, law, and literary criticism to deconstruct flawed arguments or texts.
Everyday
Used to call out hypocritical or inconsistent behaviour in personal or political contexts. 'You say you trust me, but you check my phone every night—that's a self-contradiction.'
Technical
In formal logic, a statement of the form (P ∧ ¬P), which is always false. A fatal flaw in any axiomatic system.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-contradiction”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-contradiction”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-contradiction”
- Misspelling as 'self contradiction' (without hyphen). Using it to describe a simple mistake rather than a direct logical opposition. Confusing with 'hypocrisy' (which is more about morals than pure logic).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Hypocrisy involves professing beliefs or virtues one does not practice (a moral failing). Self-contradiction is a logical failing where statements or parts of an argument directly conflict, regardless of intent.
Yes, but it's figurative. One might say "He is a walking self-contradiction" to mean his behaviour and stated beliefs are constantly at odds. Literally, the term applies to statements, arguments, or situations.
A paradox is a seemingly self-contradictory statement that may reveal a deeper truth upon analysis (e.g., 'less is more'). A self-contradiction is simply an inconsistency with no resolution, indicating an error.
It is grammatically correct and understood, but less common than using the noun or adjective. In formal writing, phrases like 'to contradict oneself' or 'to be self-contradictory' are often preferred.
A logical statement, argument, or situation that contains two or more parts that directly oppose or deny each other, making the whole inconsistent or illogical.
Self-contradiction is usually formal / academic in register.
Self-contradiction: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself kɒn.trəˈdɪk.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌself kɑːn.trəˈdɪk.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be hoist by one's own petard (related concept)”
- “To tie oneself in knots (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a person (SELF) trying to agree with themselves but instead saying "I CONTRADICT" themselves. SELF-CONTRADICTION.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOGICAL ARGUMENT IS A STRUCTURE (a self-contradiction is a crack in the foundation); INTEGRITY IS WHOLENESS (a self-contradiction is a fracture).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best illustrates a 'self-contradiction'?