What does contravene mean?
Word: Contravene
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Contravene means to break a law, rule or agreement, or to act against it.
Synonyms: break, violate, breach, disobey
Antonyms: obey, follow, observe
How do you spell contravene?
Syllables: con - tra - vene
Tricky part: The middle is tra, from the Latin contra, against, so it is not contrevene or contrivene.
Watch out for: contrevene, contrivene, contravine
Memory tip: Picture a rule book with the word contra, against, stamped across it in red: to contravene a rule is to go against it.
Contravene in a sentence
Example 1: Bursting crackers after ten at night contravenes the local noise rules.
Example 2: The referee said the tackle contravened the rules of the game.
Example 3: Building on the riverbank would contravene the city's flood plan.
Fun Fact
Contra, the Latin word for against, also begins contradict, contrary and contraband, which means goods brought in against the law.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to contravenes as used in the sentence:
Parking a scooter on the footpath contravenes the city's traffic rules and can lead to a fine.
a) enforces
b) changes
c) breaks
d) explains
Show answer
c) breaks. To contravene a rule is to break it; enforces means making people keep it.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are misspelt. Choose the meaning of the one spelt correctly.
1. contravene 2. ocurr 3. acknowlege 4. procede
a) to break or go against a rule or law
b) to go on to the next step
c) to accept or admit that something is true
d) to happen
Show answer
a) to break or go against a rule or law. Acknowledge needs a d before the g, proceed a double e and occur a double c, so only contravene is written properly.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The umpire warned both captains that any team which tried to contraveen the new rules about short-pitched bowling would lose five runs at once.
a) bowling
b) captains
c) umpire
d) contraveen
Show answer
d) contraveen. The word ends in vene, the same ending as intervene and convene.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these would contravene the rules of a school exam?
a) copying answers from a neighbour
b) writing in blue ink
c) asking for an extra sheet
d) finishing early and checking your work
Show answer
a) copying answers from a neighbour
2. Which noun is formed from contravene?
a) controversy
b) contravention
c) contraption
d) convention
Show answer
b) contravention
