What does 'Contra-' mean?

The prefix 'Contra-' derives from Latin, where it means 'against' or 'opposite.' It is commonly used in various contexts to indicate opposition or contrast. For example, in the word 'contradict,' it signifies speaking against something or someone. Similarly, in medical terminology, 'contraindicated' refers to situations where a particular treatment is not advisable because it is against the patient's health or condition. Thus, understanding that 'Contra-' means 'against' helps clarify its usage in language, especially in legal, medical, and scientific contexts, where it often denotes opposition to a given principle, recommendation, or phenomenon.