contravene

Advancedzipf 2.30

Pronunciation

/ˌkɒntrəˈviːn/(kon-truh-VEEN)

Part of speech

verbformal

Chinese

违反；违背

Definition

To violate the prohibition or order of a law, treaty, or code of conduct; to conflict with.

Word family

  • contravention/ˌkɒntrəˈvɛnʃən/(n)违反

Collocations

  • contravene a law
  • contravene regulations
  • contravene a treaty
  • in contravention of

Examples

  1. 1.The factory was fined for contravening environmental regulations. (violating)
  2. 2.His actions contravene the spirit, if not the letter, of the agreement. (go against)

Synonyms

  • violate/ˈvaɪəleɪt/— break a law/rule
  • breach/briːtʃ/— break an agreement
  • infringe/ɪnˈfrɪndʒ/— act against

Etymology

from Latin "contravenire" — contra- (against) + venire (to come) — to come against