contraposition

8.8

To form a new if-then statement by switching the two parts and saying each is not true

noun
/ˌkɒntrəpəˈzɪʃən/

Specialized

: contraposición

Understanding contraposition helps in evaluating the truth of statements by reversing and negating their components.

And we've got this contraposition of sweetness, one kind of taste, bitterness.

Examples

I think it broke the rustic look of the walnut board a bit by creating a sort of contraposition on all those curves and crazy grain.
In logical reasoning, contraposition is an important technique used to clarify relationships between propositions.
Advocating a direct contraposition of ideas is clearly a result of "not knowing the nature of war."

Blog text (14)
And we've got this contraposition of sweetness, one kind of taste, bitterness.

Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy
Contraposition of the ROC's and the ROK's recent political reforms underscores the profound and wide-ranging differences between their circumstances.

Academic text (1992)
The teacher explained the concept of contraposition by contrasting the statements 'If it rains, then the ground is wet' and 'If the ground is not wet, then it does not rain.'

Synonyms

dichotomy

vscontraposition

35 9.5

A clear difference between two opposite ideas, for example good and bad

focuses on reversing and negating terms, not on creating a strict two-part split

juxtaposition

vscontraposition

25 9.1

Putting two things side by side to compare or contrast them

involves reversing and negating terms as a logical operation

antithesis

vscontraposition

Literature

1 7.8

A way of putting two opposite ideas together to show contrast

is a logical reversal and negation process rather than rhetorical pairing

contradistinction

vscontraposition

Formal

1 9.8

A difference shown by comparing one thing with another

involves reversing and negating terms, not merely showing difference by contrast

contrapositive

vscontraposition

Specialized

9.5

A statement made by swapping the if and then parts and making them the opposite in a conditional

is the act or process of doing that reversal and negation rather than the result

counterposition

vscontraposition

8.2

An argument that opposes another idea

is about reversing and negating terms as a logical method, not just opposition

contrariety

vscontraposition

9.9

A state in which two ideas or things are opposite and cannot both be true

expresses the deliberate reversal and negation process rather than a static opposition

contradictoriness

vscontraposition

9.1

A state where ideas or statements say opposite things and cannot both be true

focuses on reversing and negating terms in a statement rather than unavoidable incompatibility

Antonyms

similarity

157 2.7

A likeness between things that makes them seem related

Surface Forms

contraposition singular

contrapositons plural

Morphology

contraposition = position (semi-transparent) = contra + position

The components 'contra' (against) and 'position' (placement) make the basic sense 'opposite placement' clear, but the precise technical meaning in logic (reversing and negating terms) is specialized and may not be obvious to an average learner.

Etymology

Contraposition comes from the parts contra- meaning 'against' and position meaning 'place'. So it literally means putting something in the opposite place, which helps you remember that in logic contraposition reverses a statement and makes it say the opposite.