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⇱ contrivance - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


contrivance

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/kənˈtraɪvəns/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/kənˈtraɪvəns/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(kən trīvəns)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
con•triv•ance /kənˈtraɪvəns/USA pronunciation   n. 
  1. something contrived, esp. a mechanical device:[countable]The strange contrivance actually worked and people began to trust it.
  2. the act or manner of contriving:[uncountable]His life of contrivance finally caught up with him when he tried to trick the same person twice.
  3. a plan or scheme:[countable]The challenger's pledge was just a contrivance to get elected.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
con•triv•ance  (kən trīvəns),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. something contrived;
    a device, esp. a mechanical one.
  2. the act or manner of contriving;
    the faculty or power of contriving.
  3. a plan or scheme;
    expedient.
  • contrive + -ance 1620–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
contrivance /kənˈtraɪvəns/ n
  1. something contrived, esp an ingenious device; contraption
  2. the act or faculty of devising or adapting; inventive skill or ability
  3. an artificial rather than natural selection or arrangement of details, parts, etc
  4. an elaborate or deceitful plan or expedient; stratagem
'contrivance' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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