Self-contradiction Definition & Meaning

Definition

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

self-contradiction American [self-kon-truh-dik-shuhn, self-] / ˈsɛlfˌkɒn trəˈdɪk ʃən, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. an act or instance of contradicting oneself or itself.

2. a statement containing contradictory elements.

Other Word Forms

• self-contradicting adjective
• self-contradictory adjective

Etymology

Origin of self-contradiction

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There are some forms of self-contradiction that threaten the reputation of legal theories and the judges who wield them.

From Seattle Times

“The North has faced self-contradiction when it threatened to level and use its nuclear weapons against fellow countrymen,” said Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul.

From New York Times

In her statement, Kim Yo Jong said the criticisms of the launch were "self-contradiction" as the U.S. and other countries have already launched "thousands of satellites."

From Reuters

In her statement, Kim also said the wide criticism of her country's satellite launch was "self-contradiction" as the U.S. and other countries have already launched "thousands of satellites."

From Reuters

But when I read it, I realized all the things I thought were my flaws — the digressing, the self-contradiction — in Bernhard that was the writing.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.