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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Ghost
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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:
Auvaa, 21, was involved in a nightclub altercation with England cricketers Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson in June.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
After the altercation, West Hollywood city officials were quick to paint Niemi as the aggressor and urged Los Angeles County Dist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard the altercation came to light days later, after a video was published on Wales Online, filmed by a witness at a Texaco garage in the Pentwyn area of Cardiff.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Airline flydubai has said all the passengers -- of whom 166 out of 174 were Israeli, according to media reports -- were safe, but that the reasons for the altercation were unknown.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
I can feel the tension in Gale’s muscles next to me, fear an altercation.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
After the 1-0 defeat on Sunday, members of the Argentina team and backroom staff were involved in altercations with Spain players as they began to celebrate their World Cup success.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 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
Harteveldt said these close quarters often lead to altercations on flights.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
The Diddy trial has been full of nonstop drama: from constant bickering between the legal teams to outbursts and altercations inside and outside the courthouse, all peppering a constant stream of utterly shocking testimonies.
From Slate ● Jun. 10, 2025
I was the boy with the altercations and the big file.
From "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
