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contrapositive

/ˌkɑntrəˈpɑzɪtɪv/
IPA guide

Other forms: contrapositives

In logic, a contrapositive is a new version of a statement like "If the sun rises there, then that's east" that reverses and negates it, but is still logically sound: "If that's not east, then the sun doesn't rise there."

Contrapositive is derived from the Latin contraponere, "to place opposite." To form a contrapositive, you take a conditional statement, also called an "If…then" statement, flip around the hypothesis and conclusion, and make both negative. If the original statement is true, the contrapositive will be true, too. For example, if you start with the sentence "If a shape has three sides, it's a triangle," its contrapositive, "If a shape isn't a triangle, it does not have three sides," is also valid.

Definitions of contrapositive
  1. noun
    (logic) a statement that negates and reverses a given conditional statement
  2. adjective
    of or pertaining to a statement that negates and reverses another
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