contravention

fine, traffic ticket

noun kohn-trah-vahn-SYOHN Rare

Also means

contravention (legal)

Usage Note

Contravention in everyday speech means a parking or traffic fine; dresser une contravention means to issue a ticket. In legal French it denotes the lowest class of criminal offence (below délit and crime). The colloquial shortening une contrav' appears in informal speech.

Examples

"Il a reçu une contravention pour excès de vitesse."

Natural Translation

He received a fine for speeding.

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