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contrarian
/kənˈtrɛəriən/
someone who opposes popular opinion
The contrarian investor bought stocks when everyone else was selling.
The investor went against the majority trend in the market.
informal
A person who holds opinions contrary to prevailing ones, often intentionally.
She’s a contrarian thinker, always questioning mainstream ideas.
She challenges widely accepted beliefs and ideas.
Often used in discussions about finance, politics, or social trends.
Collocations
contrarian viewan opinion that opposes the majoritycontrarian investorsomeone who invests against market trends
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage in finance
In investing, a contrarian buys when others sell and vice versa.
Gold Rule
Avoid overgeneralization
Not all contrarians are correct—sometimes the majority is right.
Word Origin
From Latin 'contra' (against) + '-arian' (suffix denoting a person). First recorded in the 19th century.
Usage Notes
Often used in finance to describe investors who bet against market trends. Can also describe people who intentionally oppose popular opinions.
Word Breakdown
contra
against
prefix-arian
a person characterized by
suffixEnglish Dictionary