- the act, way, or power of contriving
- something contrived, as an invention, mechanical device, or ingenious plan
noun
The definition of contrivance is the thing that causes something to happen.
An example of contrivance is the ability of a tornado to destroy buildings.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"contrivance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrivance>.
APA Style
contrivance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23rd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrivance
contrivance
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"contrivance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrivance>.
APA Style
contrivance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23rd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrivance
contrivance
noun
- a. The act of contriving.b. The state of being contrived.
- Something contrived, as a mechanical device or a clever plan.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"contrivance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrivance>.
APA Style
contrivance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23rd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrivance
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"contrivance." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 23 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrivance>.
APA Style
contrivance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23rd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrivance
Sentence Examples
- Gian Galeazzos duchy was a masterpiece of mechanical contrivance, the creation of a scheming intellect and lawless will.
- Sleep of Zeus, by the contrivance of Hera.
- There is good reason to believe that the system was as effectual in the prevention and punishment of crime and in the redress of wrongs as any other human contrivance has ever been.
- This is effected by raising up a small mound of rich compost around it, a contrivance which induces the graft to emit roots into the surface soil.
- He married a daughter of Tarquinius and succeeded to the throne by the contrivance of his mother-in-law, Tanaquil, who was skilled in divination and foresaw his greatness.
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WORDS NEAR contrivance IN THE DICTIONARY
- contrivance
- contrivances
- contrive
- contrived