The action of violating or going against a law, rule, or agreement; an instance of breaking established rules.
From Latin contraventio, derived from contravenire. The -tion suffix creates a noun from the verb, and the term has been used in English law since the 16th century.
In British law especially, you'll hear 'in contravention of' constantly—it's the official way to say someone broke a rule. It sounds very formal and legal, which is why it appears in court cases rather than everyday life.
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