It's often used in the phrase "au contraire", which translates to "on the contrary". This phrase is used to express a statement that contradicts or refutes a previous statement.
Here are some examples of how "contraire" can be used:
* "C'est le contraire de ce que j'ai pensé." (It's the contrary of what I thought.)
* "Au contraire, je suis très heureux." (On the contrary, I'm very happy.)
* "Il a dit le contraire de la vérité." (He said the opposite of the truth.)
It's worth noting that while "contraire" is a French word, it's also sometimes used in English, especially when referring to French culture or literature.