Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Intentional prevention of ovulation, fertilization of an egg cell, or implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterine wall through the use of various drugs, devices, sexual practices, or surgical procedures.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun the intentional prevention of conception or impregnation, especially when accomplished by the use of contraceptive medications or devices; a form of birth control.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun the use of a device or procedure to prevent conception as a result of sexual activity.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun birth control by the use of devices (diaphragm or intrauterine device or condom) or drugs or surgery

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[contra– + (con)ception.]

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Examples

  • The Catholic Church has a problem with the word "contraception" too, even though the vast majority of Catholic people in the United States use contraceptives to help them avoid unwanted pregnancies.

    Lisa Wexler: Call It Hormone Addition Therapy and Make a Deal Lisa Wexler 2012

  • Zeroing in on the word "contraception," many commentators have taken delight in pointing to surveys about the use of contraceptives among Catholics, the message being that any infringement of religious freedom involves an idiosyncratic position that doesn't affect that many people.

    United We Stand for Religious Freedom Donald Wuerl 2012

  • The Catholic Church has a problem with the word "contraception" too, even though the vast majority of Catholic people in the United States use contraceptives to help them avoid unwanted pregnancies.

    Lisa Wexler: Call It Hormone Addition Therapy and Make a Deal Lisa Wexler 2012

  • The Catholic Church has a problem with the word "contraception" too, even though the vast majority of Catholic people in the United States use contraceptives to help them avoid unwanted pregnancies.

    Lisa Wexler: Call It Hormone Addition Therapy and Make a Deal Lisa Wexler 2012

  • The Catholic Church has a problem with the word "contraception" too, even though the vast majority of Catholic people in the United States use contraceptives to help them avoid unwanted pregnancies.

    Lisa Wexler: Call It Hormone Addition Therapy and Make a Deal Lisa Wexler 2012

  • 2:Note: NationMaster uses the term contraception to include both modern and traditional methods.

    It’s The Economy! 2004

  • He should know full well the Church does not "condemn those of different religious view" with some damning and wholesale wave of the hand, but instead argues that contraception is objectively evil, which means those using contraceptives may or may not be culpable for their actions, depending on what they know and so forth.

    Life Issues 2009

  • I agree that his book on the history of contraception is good but his latest on the Church and slavery misses the mark.

    Former Laetare Medalist to deliver address at Notre Dame's commencement 2009

  • If she would say: contraception is a sin, and abstinance is not .... then it would make sense, but she always couches it in language of the unity of the couple -- and that sex is for bonding and condoms prevent bonding.

    Dr. Janet Smith replies to Dr. Schindler, defends Christopher West 2009

  • While I support the promotion of contraceptive pills, and think that having reliable means of chemical contraception is an important tool for allowing people to regulate their family size and for avoiding the societal and environmental dangers of overpopulation, I would be very leery of talk about ‘reproductive autonomy’ as some sort or absolute right, for men or women, because of what it carries in its train.

    Matthew Yglesias » Show Me the Votes 2009

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