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contra|flow /kɒ ntrəfloʊ/ (contraflows ) N‑COUNT A contraflow is a situation in which vehicles travelling on a main road in one direction have to use lanes that are normally used by traffic travelling in the opposite direction, because the road is being repaired. [BRIT ] □  …a contraflow between Junctions Eleven and Twelve of the M5.

contra|in|di|ca|tion /kɒ ntrə I nd I ke I ʃ ^ə n/ (contraindications ) also contra-indication N‑COUNT [usu pl] Contraindications are specific medical reasons for not using a particular treatment for a medical condition in the usual way. [MEDICAL ] □ [+ for ] Contraindications for this drug include liver or kidney impairment.

con|tral|to /kəntræ ltoʊ/ (contraltos ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A contralto is a woman with a low singing voice. □  The score calls for a contralto. □  I had a very low contralto voice.

con|trap|tion /kəntræ pʃ ^ə n/ (contraptions ) N‑COUNT You can refer to a device or machine as a contraption , especially when it looks strange or you do not know what it is used for. □  Wearers use the strange contraption for facial exercises.

con|trar|ian /kəntreə riən/ (contrarians ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A contrarian is a person who deliberately behaves in a way that is different from the people around them. [FORMAL ] □  He is by nature a contrarian. □  …the young contrarian intellectual.

con|tra|ry /kɒ ntrəri, [AM ] -treri/

1 ADJ Ideas, attitudes, or reactions that are contrary to each other are completely different from each other. □ [+ to ] This view is contrary to the aims of critical social research for a number of reasons. □  Several of those present, including Weinberger, had contrary information.

2 PHRASE If you say that something is true contrary to other people's beliefs or opinions, you are emphasizing that it is true and that they are wrong. [EMPHASIS ] □  Contrary to popular belief, moderate exercise actually decreases your appetite.

3 PHRASE You use on the contrary when you have just said or implied that something is not true and are going to say that the opposite is true. □  It is not an idea around which the Community can unite. On the contrary, I see it as one that will divide us.

4 PHRASE You can use on the contrary when you are disagreeing strongly with something that has just been said or implied, or are making a strong negative reply. [EMPHASIS ] □  'People just don't do things like that.'—'On the contrary, they do them all the time.'

5 PHRASE You can use quite the contrary to emphasize a previous negative statement, or when you are making a strong negative reply. [EMPHASIS ] □  I'm not a feminist, quite the contrary.

6 PHRASE When a particular idea is being considered, evidence or statements to the contrary suggest that this idea is not true or that the opposite is true. □  He stuck to his assumption despite growing evidence to the contrary. USAGE contrary

Don’t say ‘on the contrary’ when you are going to mention something that gives a different opinion from something you have just said. Don’t say, for example, ‘ I don’t like living in the centre of the town. On the contrary, it’s useful when you want to buy something '. Say ‘I don’t like living in the centre of the town. On the other hand , it’s useful when you want to buy something’. □  It’s a difficult job. But, on the other hand , the salary is good.