Contra Definition

kŏntrə
contras
preposition
In contrast or opposition to; against.
American Heritage
Against.
Webster's New World
Wiktionary
adverb
In opposition to something stated or expected; to the contrary.
American Heritage
noun
A member of any of the groups which sought to overthrow the Sandinista government in Nicaragua.
Webster's New World

(business) A deal to swap goods or services.

Wiktionary
(accounting) An entry that cancels another entry.
Wiktionary

(informal) Any of the musical instruments in the contrabass range, e.g. contrabassoon, contrabass clarinet or, especially, double bass.

Wiktionary
Contra dance.
Wiktionary
prefix
Against; opposite; contrasting.
Contraposition.
American Heritage
Lower in pitch.
Contrabassoon.
American Heritage
affix
Against, opposite, opposed to, contrary.
Contradict, contraceptive.
Webster's New World
Lower in musical pitch or register.
Contrabassoon.
Webster's New World
adjective

Against; in contradiction or opposition to; in answer or reply to. See also precedent.

Webster's New World Law
In legal citation, an indication to the reader that the cited authority supports a contrary position.
Webster's New World Law

Other Word Forms of Contra

Noun

Singular:
contra
Plural:
contras

Origin of Contra

  • Spanish short for contrarrevolucionario counterrevolutionary from contrarrevolución counterrevolution contra- contra- (from Latin contrā- contra-) revolución revolution (from Late Latin revolūtiō, revolūtiōn- revolution)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Latin contrā- from contrā against contra Sense 2, Italian from Latin contrā

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Short for Spanish contrarrevolucionarios (“counter-revolutionaries”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Latin contrā against kom in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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