contravention

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an action that violates or conflicts with a law, rule, order, agreement, or obligation

   The company was fined for operating in contravention of environmental regulations.

Borrowed from Middle French contravention, from Late Latin contraventio, based on contravenire, "to oppose or act against." The Latin verb combines contra, "against," with venire, "to come," giving the literal sense "to come against."

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