Affixes

Most words in contra‑ were created in Latin or Italian and have a figurative or abstract sense: contradict (Latin dicere, to speak); contravene (Latin venire, come); contraband (Italian, from bando, proclamation or ban), goods imported illegally. Compounds created in English include contraflow, contraception, and contraindication. Some are commonly hyphenated: contra-rotating. See also counter‑.