Standard Lemma guide

contravene

verb · 4 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.

  • UK: /ˌkɒn.tɹəˈviːn/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: K AA1 N T R AH0 V IY2 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To act contrary to an order; to fail to conform to a regulation or obligation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: breach, break, infringe, violate

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To deny the truth of something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

Examples

  • 1653, William Birchley, The Christian Moderator, Part 3, London: Richard Lowndes, p. 7, [...] to make the contravening of Doctrines, to be capitall, before they be fully proved, is prejudiciall to that liberty, without which none can justify himself before God or Man:

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: contradict, controvert, dispute, gainsay

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

deny the truth of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: contradict, negate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: disagree, differ, dissent, take issue

Narrower terms: deny

4

verb

Meaning 4

go against, as of rules and laws

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He ran afoul of the law
  • This behavior conflicts with our rules

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: conflict, run afoul, infringe

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: transgress, offend, infract, violate, go against, breach, break

History

Etymology

From Middle French contravenir (French contrevenir), from Latin contraveniō.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: опълчвам се (opǎlčvam se) — to act contrary to an order, or fail to conform
  • Bulgarian: отивам против (otivam protiv) — to act contrary to an order, or fail to conform
  • German: zuwiderhandeln — to act contrary to an order, or fail to conform
  • German: verstoßen — to act contrary to an order, or fail to conform
  • Māori: takahi — to act contrary to an order, or fail to conform
  • Romanian: contraveni — to act contrary to an order, or fail to conform
  • Spanish: contravenir — to act contrary to an order, or fail to conform
  • Spanish: conculcar — to act contrary to an order, or fail to conform
  • Bulgarian: противореча (protivoreča) — to deny the truth of something
  • German: leugnen — to deny the truth of something