Contradictory
/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktəri/
Definitions
Mutually opposed or inconsistent; logically incompatible.
/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktəri/
Expressing opposition or inconsistency; mutually inconsistent.
The two accounts of the incident were contradictory.
💡 Simply: Imagine you say it's raining, and then in the next breath, you say the sun is shining. That's contradictory – two things that can't both be true at the same time!
👶 For kids: When two things say the opposite of each other, like saying "it's day" and "it's night" at the same time!
More Examples
His actions were often contradictory to his stated beliefs.
The witness gave a contradictory testimony during the trial.
How It's Used
"A contradictory statement cannot be simultaneously true."
"The witness's testimony contained contradictory elements."
Idioms & expressions
contradict oneself
To say or do something that is the opposite of what one has said or done before.
"He contradicted himself when he claimed to be a vegetarian but ate a burger."
From Latin contradictorius, from contradictus, past participle of contradicere ('to speak against'), from contra ('against') + dicere ('to say').
The word has been in use since the 16th century, mainly in theological and philosophical discussions to describe logical inconsistencies.
Memory tip
Think of a situation where two statements directly fight each other.