a member of the guerrilla force that opposed a left-wing government in Nicaragua
"The contra rebels launched a surprise attack on the village to undermine the Sandinista administration."
A deal to swap goods or services.
"The Contra rebels launched a cross-border raid into Nicaraguan territory to undermine the Sandinista administration."
A member of any of various rightist guerrilla groups violently opposing the socialist Sandinista government of Nicaragua and secretly funded by the United States government in the 1980s.
In plain English: Contra is an old-fashioned word for someone who opposes another person's argument or plan.
"The contra dancer moved energetically across the floor with her partner."
To undo; to reverse.
"The new policy aims to contra the previous regulations by allowing longer working hours."
contrary to something
"His actions stood in stark contra to his earlier promises, leaving everyone confused about his true intentions."
against; contrary or opposed to; in opposition or contrast to
"The report presents data that is entirely contra previous findings, challenging the established theory."
The word contra comes directly from the Latin term contrā, which originally meant "against." It entered English with this same sense of opposition or contrast.