altercation
Americannoun
-
altercations
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of altercation
1350–1400; Middle English altercacioun < Latin altercātiōn- (stem of altercātiō ). See altercate, -ion
Explanation
Altercation is a nicer word for "quarrel," which is a nicer word for "fight." Fight is a simple, effective one-syllable word, while quarrel is a softer, two-syllable word, and altercation is a very civilized-sounding four-syllable word for the same uncivilized thing: a noisy argument between angry people. Someone who gets a black eye fighting for a parking spot might — after cooling down — describe the incident as an altercation rather than as a knock-down, drag-out brawl.
Vocabulary lists containing altercation
To Kill a Mockingbird
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Grade 9, List 3
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1984
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Brown was involved in a January 2013 altercation with singer Frank Ocean.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026
The Israeli military, contacted by AFP for comment on Mohammed's death, said at the time that soldiers opened fire during an altercation while deployed in Al-Rihaya.
From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026
On Dec. 7, 2023, Howard was involved in another incident: a verbal altercation with another coach, the law firm noted.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
The Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services and the FBI investigated the alleged physical altercation between Pitt and his son Maddox.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
This last altercation has given Enobaria and Gloss time to reach the Cornucopia.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
The former 87-cap fly-half described the game as one of the "big rivalries" for his side, but not because of any off-field altercations.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
As a result, the public has been kept from one of the chief ways it has to hold officers involved in such altercations accountable: their identity.
From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2026
Although government officials have claimed that Good and Pretti were both aggressors in their altercations, footage captured by bystanders appeared to contradict those claims.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2026
Renee Nicole Good, a mother of a six year old, showed up with her wife and dog to film altercations between officers and community members.
From Slate ● Jan. 8, 2026
Just a long, poor-lighted platform with loud furious altercations in Arabic going on somewhere.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
