Definition of contronym in English:

contronym

(also contranym)

noun ˈkɒntrənɪmˈkäntrəˌnim

A word with two opposite meanings, e.g. sanction (which can mean both ‘a penalty for disobeying a law’ and ‘official permission or approval for an action’).
Example sentencesExamples
- Using a contronym requires the listener's knowing which of its meanings applies.
- In the special case of contronyms, the polysemous terms contain two opposite meanings.
- For my part, I try to avoid words that lead to confusion like this; that's why I proscribe the usage of contranyms.
- Certainly, many of these contronyms are part of idiomatic expressions.
- I'm not sure if this would be a pure contranym because the two phrases don't necessarily oppose each other.

Origin

1960s: blend of contra- and -onym, on the pattern of synonym and antonym.

Definition of contronym in US English:

contronym

(also contranym)

nounˈkäntrəˌnim

A word with two opposite meanings, e.g. sanction (which can mean both ‘a penalty for disobeying a law’ and ‘official permission or approval for an action’).
Example sentencesExamples
- Certainly, many of these contronyms are part of idiomatic expressions.
- Using a contronym requires the listener's knowing which of its meanings applies.
- For my part, I try to avoid words that lead to confusion like this; that's why I proscribe the usage of contranyms.
- In the special case of contronyms, the polysemous terms contain two opposite meanings.
- I'm not sure if this would be a pure contranym because the two phrases don't necessarily oppose each other.

Origin

1960s: blend of contra- and -onym, on the pattern of synonym and antonym.

词汇	contronym
释义	Definition of contronym in English: contronym (also contranym) noun ˈkɒntrənɪmˈkäntrəˌnim A word with two opposite meanings, e.g. sanction (which can mean both ‘a penalty for disobeying a law’ and ‘official permission or approval for an action’). Example sentencesExamples Using a contronym requires the listener's knowing which of its meanings applies. In the special case of contronyms, the polysemous terms contain two opposite meanings. For my part, I try to avoid words that lead to confusion like this; that's why I proscribe the usage of contranyms. Certainly, many of these contronyms are part of idiomatic expressions. I'm not sure if this would be a pure contranym because the two phrases don't necessarily oppose each other. Origin 1960s: blend of contra- and -onym, on the pattern of synonym and antonym. Definition of contronym in US English: contronym (also contranym) nounˈkäntrəˌnim A word with two opposite meanings, e.g. sanction (which can mean both ‘a penalty for disobeying a law’ and ‘official permission or approval for an action’). Example sentencesExamples Certainly, many of these contronyms are part of idiomatic expressions. Using a contronym requires the listener's knowing which of its meanings applies. For my part, I try to avoid words that lead to confusion like this; that's why I proscribe the usage of contranyms. In the special case of contronyms, the polysemous terms contain two opposite meanings. I'm not sure if this would be a pure contranym because the two phrases don't necessarily oppose each other. Origin 1960s: blend of contra- and -onym, on the pattern of synonym and antonym.
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