contempt

UK: /kənˈtɛmpt/ US: /kənˈtɛmpt/ ,(kən tempt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•tempt /kənˈtɛmpt/   n. [uncountable]

1. a lack of respect;
   scorn;
   disregard:
   She gave me a look of pure contempt.
   [in + ~]
   He was held in contempt by his profession.
2. Law deliberate disobedience to, or open disrespect for, the rules or orders of a court or legislative body:
   charged with contempt of court.

Synonyms

contempt, disdain, scorn imply strong feelings of disapproval and dislike toward what seems worthless. contempt is disapproval with disgust: to feel contempt for a weakling. disdain is a feeling that a person or thing is beneath one's dignity and unworthy of one's notice, respect, or concern:
a disdain for crooked dealing; a disdain for common people.
scorn carries with it the meaning of open or undisguised contempt often combined with mocking or ridiculing:
He showed only scorn for those who were not as ambitious as himself.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•tempt  (kən tempt′), n. 

1. the feeling with which a person regards anything considered mean, vile, or worthless;
   disdain;
   scorn.
2. the state of being despised;
   dishonor;
   disgrace.
3. Law
   • willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or orders of a court (contempt′ of court′) or legislative body.
   • an act showing such disrespect.

• Latin contemptus a slighting = contemn(ere) to despise, scorn (see contemn) + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action (with loss of n and intrusive p)
• Anglo-French)
• Middle English (1350–1400

syncontempt, disdain, scorn imply strong feelings of disapproval and aversion toward what seems base, mean, or worthless. contempt is disapproval tinged with disgust: to feel contempt for a weakling. disdain is a feeling that a person or thing is beneath one's dignity and unworthy of one's notice, respect, or concern: a disdain for crooked dealing. scorn denotes open or undisguised contempt often combined with derision: He showed only scorn for those who were not as ambitious as himself.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

contempt / kənˈtɛmpt/ noun

1. the attitude or feeling of a person towards a person or thing that he or she considers worthless or despicable; scorn
2. the state of being scorned; disgrace (esp in the phrase hold in contempt)
3. wilful disregard of or disrespect for the authority of a court of law or legislative body: contempt of court

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin contemptus a despising, from contemnere to contemn