Definition

1. Verb:
   • To violate or breach (a rule, law, or principle): To act or be in conflict with an established regulation, agreement, or standard.
   • To be inconsistent with; to contradict: To be in opposition to a statement, argument, or fact.

Usage

• The verb "contravene" is formal and is typically used in legal, official, or academic contexts to describe actions that break rules or statements that are logically incompatible.
• It is a transitive verb and requires a direct object (e.g., to contravene a law, a principle, an agreement).

Examples

• Violating a rule or law:
  • The new policy appears to contravene international human rights law.
  • Building without a permit contravenes local zoning regulations.
• Being inconsistent or contradictory:
  • His actions contravene his stated commitment to transparency.
  • The witness's testimony contravened the earlier evidence presented.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in contravention of": A common noun phrase meaning "in violation of."
  • The company's practices were found to be in contravention of safety standards.
• Used in passive constructions:
  • The treaty was contravened by the invading forces.

Variants and Related Words

• Contravention (noun): An act of contravening; a violation.
  • Fines are levied for contravention of the regulations.
• Contravening (adjective/participle): Describing an action that contravenes.
  • The contravening party will be held liable.

Synonyms

• Violate: To break or fail to comply with (a rule or formal agreement).
• Infringe: To actively break the terms of (a law, agreement, etc.).
• Breach: To make a gap in and break through; to break or fail to observe.
• Transgress: To infringe or go beyond the bounds of (a moral principle or other established standard).
• Conflict with: To be incompatible or at variance with.

Antonyms

• Comply (with): To act in accordance with a wish, command, or rule.
• Observe: To fulfill or comply with (a social, legal, ethical, or religious obligation).
• Uphold: To maintain or support a law, principle, etc.

Phrases and Collocations

• To contravene a law/regulation/rule
• To contravene an order/agreement/treaty
• To contravene a principle/doctrine
• Flagrantly contravene: To violate in an obviously offensive way.

Verb

1. deny the truth of
2. go against, as of rules and laws
   • He ran afoul of the law
   • This behavior conflicts with our rules