argument

[ ahr-gyuh-muhnt ]

/ ˈɑr gyə mənt /

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See synonyms for: argument / arguments on Thesaurus.com

noun

an oral disagreement; verbal opposition; contention; altercation: a violent argument.

a discussion involving differing points of view; debate: They were deeply involved in an argument about inflation.

a process of reasoning; series of reasons: I couldn't follow his argument.

a statement, reason, or fact for or against a point: This is a strong argument in favor of her theory.

an address or composition intended to convince or persuade; persuasive discourse.

subject matter; theme: The central argument of his paper was presented clearly.

an abstract or summary of the major points in a work of prose or poetry, or of sections of such a work.

Mathematics.

an independent variable of a function.
Also called amplitude. the angle made by a given vector with the reference axis.
the angle corresponding to a point representing a given complex number in polar coordinates.Compare principal argument.

Computers. a variable in a program, to which a value will be assigned when the program is run: often given in parentheses following a function name and used to calculate the function.

Obsolete.

evidence or proof.
a matter of contention.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of argument

1325–75; Middle English (<Old French ) <Latin argūmentum.See argue, -ment

synonym study for argument

1. Argument, controversy, dispute imply the expression of opinions for and against some idea. An argument usually arises from a disagreement between two persons, each of whom advances facts supporting his or her own point of view. A controversy or a dispute may involve two or more persons. A dispute is an oral contention, usually brief, and often of a heated, angry, or undignified character: a violent dispute over a purchase. A controversy is an oral or written expression of contrary opinions, and may be dignified and of some duration: a political controversy.

OTHER WORDS FROM argument

re·ar·gu·ment, noun

Words nearby argument

arguable, arguably, argue, Argüedas, argufy, argument, argumentation, argumentative, argument from design, argumentum, argumentum ad hominem

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

MORE ABOUT ARGUMENT

What is an argument?

An argument is a spoken disagreement or altercation between two people, The argument between the couple began with a disagreement over who’s turn it was to empty the dishwasher.

An argument is also a debate, as in The argument about whether or not to buy new playground equipment went back and forth for over an hour.

An argument is a series of reasons, as in The debating team always prepared an argument on the importance of debating teams.

An argument is also a theme or central argument, as in an essay.

Example: The debate turned into a heated argument when the missing money was brought up.

Where does argument come from?

The first records of the term argument come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin argūmentum.

Arguments arise when two points of view cannot align. Arguments can be caused by differences of opinion, honest misunderstandings, or outright lies. For example, a couple might have an argument about doing household chores because one person has a stronger desire for cleanliness than the other person does. Arguments like these can be found in just about any situation and can typically be resolved with a compromise.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to argument?

reargument (noun)
argumentation (noun)
argumentative (adjective)

What are some synonyms for argument?

What are some words that share a root or word element with argument?

What are some words that often get used in discussing argument?

How is argument used in real life?

Argument is commonly used to describe a discussion with two or more conflicting viewpoints.

You ever be killin it in an argument and then just sit back and be like…wow…I really should pursue a career in law.

— Zendaya (@Zendaya) January 19, 2018

I've got a new challenge for everyone today. Pick somebody that you had an argument with that you think you hate maybe even someone you haven't spoken to in years and contact that person and tell them I love you.

— ye (@kanyewest) April 28, 2018

Every argument ain’t a fall out

— Waka Flocka (WakaFlocka.eth) (@WakaFlocka) June 22, 2019

Try using argument!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for argument?

A. agreement
B. altercation
C. debate
D. disagreement

How to use argument in a sentence

Barr was explicit about setting the table for that argument in an interview with a Chicago Tribune columnist this week.
William Barr is the poster child for politicized law enforcement officials|Philip Bump|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
What was important for us was finding a solution that fit the customer behavior—that’s the key argument for moving users from an illegal website to a legal one.
An Africa-focused music download service raised $6 million from its IPO to help pay artists|Yomi Kazeem|September 16, 2020|Quartz
A super PAC funded almost entirely by Illinois megadonor Richard Uihlein, Restoration has run a string of ads in the Midwest supporting local Republican candidates and making very different arguments against Joe Biden.
The Trailer: The First State goes last|David Weigel|September 15, 2020|Washington Post
Murphy says that from October 2018 to March 2019, he, Nielsen, and other top DHS officials discussed how best to present their argument to Congress for building a wall on the southern border with Mexico.
What to make of the DHS whistleblower’s shocking complaint|Alex Ward|September 11, 2020|Vox

You kind of need a case study to have a solid argument for an advertiser.
‘Layer of data and efficiency’: How TechCrunch took Disrupt virtual — and grew for its tenth anniversary|Max Willens|September 11, 2020|Digiday
In 2009, a Pakistani Christian woman got into a religious argument with some Muslim women with whom she was harvesting berries.
In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I remember that after the movie, people were saying how depressing it was, and I started an argument with them.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Mehdi Bayati has been putting forward the same argument as my middle school teachers.
50 Shades of Iran: The Mullahs’ Kinky Fantasies about Sex in the West|IranWire, Shima Sharabi|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The argument now is how to limit certain types of plays that banks can make under certain circumstances.
How Naive is Elizabeth Warren?|Nick Gillespie|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The New York kingmaker who died Monday believed voters could actually handle a nuanced argument.
David Garth, the Consultant Who Talked Up to Voters|Jeff Greenfield|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many people when presented with the argument above, would settle it at once with the word "socialism."
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
"But I don't see what you can shoot with it," said Davy, feeling that he was somehow getting the worst of the argument.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
That argument was not the one of least weight in the council in determining that our fleet should not sail against the enemy.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
These brilliant results were arrived at after much clamour and argument and imposing procès verbal.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
An argument took place in a coffee-house, between two men of taste, as to the best method of dressing a beefsteak.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various

British Dictionary definitions for argument

argument

/ (ˈɑːɡjʊmənt) /

noun

a quarrel; altercation

a discussion in which reasons are put forward in support of and against a proposition, proposal, or case; debatethe argument on birth control will never be concluded

(sometimes plural) a point or series of reasons presented to support or oppose a proposition

a summary of the plot or subject of a book, etc

logic

a process of deductive or inductive reasoning that purports to show its conclusion to be true
formally, a sequence of statements one of which is the conclusion and the remainder the premises

logic an obsolete name for the middle term of a syllogism

maths

an element to which an operation, function, predicate, etc, applies, esp the independent variable of a function
the amplitude of a complex number

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with argument

argument

see under pick a quarrel.

argument

Origin of argument

synonym study for argument

OTHER WORDS FROM argument

Words nearby argument

MORE ABOUT ARGUMENT

What is an argument?

Where does argument come from?

Did you know … ?

How is argument used in real life?

Try using argument!

Words related to argument

How to use argument in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for argument

Other Idioms and Phrases with argument