To meet in the way of opposition; to come into conflict with; to oppose; to contradict; to obstruct the operation of; to defeat
To contravene a law or rule means to do something that is forbidden by the law or rule. The Board has banned the film on the grounds that it contravenes criminal libel laws = break + contravention contraventions contra·ven·tion The government has lent millions of pounds to debt-ridden banks in contravention of local banking laws. to do something that is not allowed according to a law or rule = violate (contrevenir, from contravenire, from contra- ( CONTRA-) + venire )