Part of Speech

Noun

Pronunciation

IPA: /kənˈtɔːrʃən/

Phonetic: kun-TOR-shun

Definitions

• A twisted or bent condition, state, or form.
• An act or process of contorting or being contorted.
• A distorted meaning or interpretation.

Usage Examples

• "Her face was a contortion of pain and anger."
• "The acrobat's contortion of his body amazed the audience."
• "The lawyer accused the reporter of a deliberate contortion of the facts."

Etymology

Derived from the Latin contortio, from contorquere ("to twist, bend"), from com- ("together") + torquere ("to twist"). The word has been used in English since the late 16th century.

Synonyms

• Twist
• Distortion
• Bend
• Warp
• Deformation

Antonyms

• Straightening
• Alignment
• Order

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /kənˈtɔːʃən/
• American English: /kənˈtɔːrʃən/

Historical Usage

The term 'contortion' has been used in literature and science since the 16th century, often referring to bodily movements, facial expressions, or distortions of meaning in rhetoric.

Cultural Nuances

In performance arts, contortion is a highly skilled form of acrobatics. In figurative language, 'contortion' can refer to the twisting of truth or logic.

More Information

The concept of contortion extends beyond physical movement to metaphorical uses in politics, literature, and everyday speech, where it describes extreme flexibility or distortion.