›an action that is against a law or rule, or that is not what you promised or were expected to do: (a) contravention of sthThe use of unguarded candles is a contravention of the 1981 Hotels & Boarding House Act.be in contravention of sthWe are trying to understand in what way we may have been in contravention of the law.Council may serve a contravention notice if the builder fails to submit plans before starting construction work.