Standard Lemma guide

contradistinction

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌkɒntɹədɪˈstɪŋkʃn̩/
  • General-American: /ˌkɑntɹədɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Distinction by contrast; the provision of one example against which another example may be defined.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • We used hamburgers and soda in contradistinction to healthy food.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The quality of being contradistinctive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a distinction drawn on the basis of contrast

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • sculpture in contradistinction to painting

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: differentiation, distinction

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrābor. English contra- English distinction English contradistinction From contra- + distinction.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: противопоставяне (protivopostavjane) — distinction by contrast
  • French: contradistinction — distinction by contrast
  • German: kontradistinktion — distinction by contrast
  • Greek: αντιδιαστολή (antidiastolí) — distinction by contrast
  • Icelandic: til aðgreiningar frá — distinction by contrast
  • Icelandic: sem annars konar fyrirbæri en — distinction by contrast
  • Norwegian: kontradistinksjon — distinction by contrast
  • Swedish: motsats — distinction by contrast