Contravenes

Contravenes is a verb meaning to act in opposition to or violate a law, regulation, agreement, or code of conduct. It can also mean to run counter to or be in conflict with something established. The word is primarily used in formal or legal contexts. It is transitive: you contravene a rule by violating it.

Etymology: contravene comes from Old French contravenir, from Latin contraveniire, formed from contra- “against” + venire “to come.”

Usage: In legal and regulatory language, governments and organizations say that a party contravened a regulation or contravened the terms of a contract. In international law, a state may contravene a treaty by failing to fulfill its obligations. In everyday speech, contravene is used to emphasize a breach of formal rules more than casual disagreement; it often carries a formal or custodial tone.

Noun form and related terms: The noun contravention refers to the act of contravening or the violation itself. For example, “The company faced penalties for contravention of environmental regulations.” Some jurisdictions issue contravention notices or penalties for contraventions, especially in traffic or planning contexts. Related terms include breach, infringe, and violate; contravene differs in its formal connotation and its typical application to laws, regulations, treaties, and policies.

Examples: A company that discharges waste into a river may contravene environmental laws. A driver who fails to wear a seatbelt may contravene safety regulations. A contract may be considered contravened when one party fails to meet its obligations.

Overview: Contravene denotes formal noncompliance with rules or agreements and is most common in legal, regulatory, and policy discourse. It emphasizes breach of established standards rather than mere disagreement or contradiction.