contronym

/ˈkɑntrəˌnɪm/

Other forms: contronyms

A contronym is a word with two opposite meanings. The verb dust is a contronym: It can mean to cover with small particles (as when you dust your rolling pin with flour before rolling out a pie crust) or to remove small particles (as when you dust your bookshelves).

Contronym comes from roots meaning "opposite name." These unusual and confusing words have definitions that nearly contradict each other. Sanction is a common contronym. When a government sanctions a country that broke a treaty, it imposes penalties or punishment, but when the same government sanctions a new immigration policy, it officially approves that policy. Cleave, another contronym, can mean either "adhere to" or "split apart." Contronyms can make your head spin!

Definitions of contronym

1. noun

   a word that has two contradictory or opposing meanings
   type of:

   word

   a unit of language that native speakers can identify