Contra

/ˈkɒntɹə/ · preposition

Meaning

Against; contrary or opposed to; in opposition or contrast to..

Definitions by Sense

1. Against; contrary or opposed to; in opposition or contrast to.
2. Contrary to something.
3. (business) A deal to swap goods or services.
4. (politics, derogatory) A conservative; originally tied to Nicaraguan counter-revolutionaries.
5. (accounting, often attributive) An entry (or account) that cancels another entry (or account).
6. (music, informal) Any of the musical instruments in the contrabass range, e.g. contrabassoon, contrabass clarinet or, especially, double bass.
7. (dance) A contra dance.
8. (obsolete, US, New England, dance) A country dance.

Example Sentences

[…] it is useless to pray “Thy kingdom come” and vote contra or stay away from the polls; […]

a contra position; a contra entry

The sum for each contra account is shown in the last column.

Folk histories record that contras were gradually displaced by the introduction of the quadrille and the new couple dances.

to contra a position (an entry)

Synonyms for contra

Antonyms for contra

Related Words

Word Forms

• more contra
• most contra
• contras

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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