preposition
Uncommon
contra
KONT-ruh
Contra (preposition) means Against or in opposition to. Example: “The debate was argued pro and contra the new tax.”
preposition
1
Against or in opposition to.
"The debate was argued pro and contra the new tax."
noun
1
An accounting entry that offsets or cancels out another entry.
"The refund was recorded as a contra against the original sale."
2
A member of a rightist guerrilla group that fought Nicaragua's socialist government in the 1980s, secretly backed by the United States.
"The historian wrote a book about the Contras and the Iran-Contra scandal."
How to use contra
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to mean "against" or "opposite," and also the name for anti-government Nicaraguan fighters in the 1980s.
Common pairings
pro and contra
contra account
Iran-Contra affair
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Word forms
- Plural
- contras
- Third person singular
- contras
- Comparative
- more contra
- Superlative
- most contra
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The debate was argued pro and _____ the new tax.
Etymology
From Latin contrā, meaning "against."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “contra” mean?
The word “contra” means against or in opposition to. In plain terms, used to mean "against" or "opposite," and also the name for anti-government Nicaraguan fighters in the 1980s.
How do you pronounce “contra”?
“Contra” is pronounced KONT-ruh (/ˈkɑntɹə/ in IPA).
How do you use “contra” in a sentence?
Here is “contra” used in a sentence: “The debate was argued pro and contra the new tax.”
What is the opposite of “contra”?
The opposite of “contra” — its antonyms — are for and pro.
What part of speech is “contra”?
Depending on how it is used, “contra” can be a preposition and a noun.
Where does the word “contra” come from?
The word “contra” comes from Latin. From Latin contrā, meaning "against.".
Is “contra” a common word?
“Contra” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “contra” have?
“Contra” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: against or in opposition to.
