noun · 2 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.
/ˌkɒntɹəˈvɛntʃən/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AA2 N T R AH0 V EH1 N CH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The act of contravening (a rule, regulation, law, or order) or of not fulfilling (an obligation, promise, or agreement).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Their contravention of the treaty increased international tensions.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
coming into conflict with
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: dispute
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: resistance
History
Etymology
From Middle French contravention.
Across languages
Translations
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
contravenció
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
French:
contravention
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
German:
Verletzung
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
German:
Verstoß
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
German:
Zuwiderhandlung
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Hungarian:
törvénysértés
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Hungarian:
szabálysértés
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Hungarian:
jogsértés
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Hungarian:
megszegés
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Hungarian:
megsértés
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Hungarian:
áthágás
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Māori:
takahanga
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Polish:
wykroczenie
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Polish:
pogwałcenie
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Polish:
naruszenie
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Polish:
przekroczenie
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Portuguese:
contravenção
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Russian:
наруше́ние
(narušénije)
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Spanish:
contravención
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Swedish:
överträdelse
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
Swedish:
kränkning
— the act of contravening a rule, regulation, or law, or of not fulfilling an obligation, promise, or agreement
