contra

¹

[ kon-truh ]

preposition

1. against; in opposition or contrast to:

   Consider the problems of the teenager contra those of the adult.

adverb

1. contrariwise; on or to the contrary.

contra-

²

1. a prefix meaning “against,” “opposite,” “opposing”:

   contradistinction, contraindicate.

contra

³

[ kon-truh; Spanish kawn-trah ]

noun

, plural con·tras [kon, -tr, uh, z, kawn, -t, r, ahs].

1. (often initial capital letter) a member of a counterrevolutionary guerrilla group in Nicaragua.

contra-

⁴

1. a prefix meaning “pitched lower than” the voice or instrument specified by the following element:

   contralto, contrabassoon.

contra-

prefix

1. against; contrary; opposing; contrasting

   contraceptive

   contradistinction

2. (in music) pitched below

   contrabass

Word History and Origins

Origin of contra¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin contrā

Origin of contra²

< Late Latin, Latin, prefixal use of adverb and preposition contrā

Origin of contra³

First recorded in 1980–85; from Central American Spanish, shortening of contrarrevolucionario “counterrevolutionary”

Origin of contra⁴

< Italian < Latin; contra- ¹( def ), counterpoint

Word History and Origins

Origin of contra¹

from Latin, from contrā against

Example Sentences

That may be why they were ousted even as progressive prosecutors in Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties were recently reelected.

From Los Angeles Times

Taylor was booked into the Contra Costa County Detention Facility in Martinez on suspicion of murder, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times

Contra Lewandoski, that same year Masha Gessen urged people to “Believe the autocrat. He means what he says.”

From Salon

Contra claims that the inquiry was “by the book,” he said that there was no book upon which to rely: every step of the investigation was dictated by the Trump White House.

From Salon

John Gioia, a longtime supervisor in Contra Costa County, said the needs of cities and counties are just as great as those of schools.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• antithesis
• contrary