contradiction

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

con·tra·dic·tion AW [contradiction contradictions] BrE [ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkʃn] NAmE [ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃn] noun
1. countable, uncountable ~ (between A and B) a lack of agreement between facts, opinions, actions, etc
•There is a contradiction between the two sets of figures.
•His public speeches are in direct contradiction to his personal lifestyle.
•How can we resolve this apparent contradiction?
2. uncountable, countable the act of saying that sth that sb else has said is wrong or not true; an example of this
•I think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that…
•Now you say you both left at ten— that's a contradiction of your last statement.
Idiom: ↑contradiction in terms

Word Origin:
late Middle English: via Old French from Latin contradictio(n-), from the verb contradicere, originally contra dicere ‘speak against’.

Example Bank:
•That's in direct contradiction to what he said yesterday.
•The idea is almost a contradiction in terms.
•There is an apparent contradiction between the needs of workers and those of employers.
•There's a basic contradiction in the whole idea of paying for justice.