Contrary means opposite or completely different from something else. When two ideas are contrary, they clash with each other like oil and water. If your friend wants to go swimming and you want to stay dry, those desires are contrary to each other.

The word often describes people too, especially when they're being difficult or disagreeable. A contrary person seems to oppose things just for the sake of opposing them. If everyone wants pizza for lunch and one student insists on tacos, arguing against every reason the group gives, that student is being contrary. Some people enjoy being contrary because they like stirring up debate or getting attention.

You might also hear the phrase on the contrary, which people use to strongly disagree with what someone just said. If your brother claims you never help around the house, you might respond, “On the contrary, I cleaned the entire kitchen yesterday!”

The related phrase to the contrary means the opposite. If someone says, “I haven't heard anything to the contrary,” they mean they haven't heard any information suggesting the opposite is true.

When wind or weather is described as contrary, it means it's working against you. Sailors face contrary winds when the wind blows from the direction they're trying to go, making their journey much harder than it needs to be.