Dictionary definition · contrary
noun
- a relation of direct opposition"we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true"
- exact opposition"public opinion to the contrary — that he is not guilty"
- a logical relation such that two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false
adjective
- very opposed in nature or character or purpose"acts contrary to our code of ethics"
- of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false"‘hot’ and ‘cold’ are contrary terms"
- resistant to guidance or discipline"Mary, Mary, quite contrary"
- in an opposing direction"adverse currents"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).