<p>The contact element (1) has a detent spring (10) running in a longitudinal direction (L) of a contact housing (2) and held at the contact housing. A free end (12) of the detent spring is moved into a resting direction running transverse to the longitudinal direction. The detent spring has a retaining projection protruding into an opening (18) of the contact housing. A protection section (20a) of the contact housing overlaps the retaining projection in a projection in the rest direction. The protection section runs section wise to the detent spring.</p>
