Saying or claiming the opposite of something someone else said, or being in direct conflict with something.
From Latin 'contra' (against) plus 'dicere' (to speak). Literally means 'to speak against,' and has meant that since medieval times.
The word 'contradict' is built from 'contra' (against) and 'dict' (speak)—so when politicians contradict themselves, they're literally speaking against what they said before!
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