contractocracyThe routine use of contractors to perform the functions of government rather than regular government employees, often with the implication that the contractors are ineffective and simply enriching themselves due to government corruption.
contractorA person or company that builds or improves buildings or structures.
contractorizationThe act of providing a public service by a private contractor.
contractualOf, relating to, or enforced by a contract.
contractualismA political theory based on the idea of a social contract between a ruler and their subjects.
contrafactA new musical composition built out of an already existing one, most often a new melody overlaid on a familiar harmonic structure. An important part of the development of bebop. Contrafacts are not to be confused with musical quotations, which borrow rhythms or melodies from an existing composition.
contrafactiveDescribing a verb whose object clause is taken to be false.
contrafreeloaderAn animal that chooses to obtain food that requires effort rather than food that does not require effort; an animal that engages in contrafreeloading.
contrafreeloadingA behaviour, where, when given a choice, an individual animal will choose a food source which requires effort to obtain instead of that which requires little to no effort.
contrailAn artificial cloud made by the exhaust of jet aircraft or wingtip vortices that precipitate a stream of tiny ice crystals in moist, frigid upper air.
contralesionalDescribing the half of a patient's brain or body away from the site of a lesion, as for example with hemispatial neglect after a stroke.
contralesionallyOn the half of a patient's brain or body that is away from the site of a lesion.
contraltoThe lowest female voice or voice part, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. The terms contralto and alto refer to the same musical pitch range, but among singers, the term contralto is reserved for female singers; the equivalent male form is counter-tenor. Originally the contratenor altus was a high countermelody sung against the tenor or main melody.
contrappostoThe position of a human figure whose hips and legs are twisted away from the direction of the head and shoulders; (countable) an instance of this.
contrarianA person who likes or tends to express a contradicting viewpoint, especially from one held by a majority of people, usually because of nonconformity or spite.
contrarianismA pattern of stubbornly adopting contrary, nonconforming viewpoints; the beliefs and practices of a contrarian.