Definition

1. Noun:
   • (Logic) A statement that is necessarily false: A "contradiction in terms" is a phrase or statement that contains inherently conflicting ideas, making it logically impossible to be true. It is a self-contradictory expression.

Usage

• The term is used to identify and describe statements that are logically inconsistent within themselves.
• It is often employed in formal logic, philosophy, and everyday critical discussion to point out fundamental errors in reasoning or description.

Examples

• Noun:
  • "A square circle" is a classic contradiction in terms.
  • Describing something as "a silent scream" is considered a contradiction in terms.
  • The politician's promise of "an expensive free lunch" was dismissed as a contradiction in terms.

Advanced Usage

• "To be a contradiction in terms": This is the standard phrase used to label something as self-contradictory.
  • For many, "military intelligence" is a contradiction in terms.
• Used as a predicate nominative: It often follows a linking verb like "is" or "seems."
  • The concept of "planned spontaneity" seems like a contradiction in terms.

Variants and Related Words

• Contradiction (n): A more general term for a combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed to one another.
  • There is a contradiction between his words and his actions.
• Oxymoron (n): A figure of speech that juxtaposes two apparently contradictory terms for effect (e.g., "deafening silence"). While similar, an oxymoron is often a deliberate stylistic device, whereas a "contradiction in terms" typically denotes a logical error.
• Paradox (n): A seemingly self-contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true, revealing a deeper truth.
  • The paradox of "less is more."

Synonyms

• Self-contradiction: An act or instance of contradicting oneself.
• Inconsistency: The fact or state of being internally inconsistent.
• Logical impossibility: Something that cannot be true under any possible interpretation due to the laws of logic.

Related Phrases

• A contradiction of terms: A less common variant with the same meaning as "contradiction in terms."

Related Idioms

• To contradict oneself: To say something that contradicts what one has said before.
  • He contradicted himself several times during the interview.

Noun

1. (logic) a statement that is necessarily false
   • the statement `he is brave and he is not brave' is a contradiction