argument

[ahr-gyuh-muhnt]

noun

1. an oral disagreement; verbal opposition; contention; altercation.

   a violent argument.

2. a discussion involving differing points of view; debate.

   They were deeply involved in an argument about inflation.

3. a process of reasoning; series of reasons.

   I couldn't follow his argument.

4. a statement, reason, or fact for or against a point.

   This is a strong argument in favor of her theory.

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

6. subject matter; theme.

   The central argument of his paper was presented clearly.

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

8. Mathematics.

   1. an independent variable of a function.

   2. Also called amplitude. the angle made by a given vector with the reference axis.

   3. the angle corresponding to a point representing a given complex number in polar coordinates.

9. 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.

10. Obsolete.

    1. evidence or proof.

    2. a matter of contention.

argument

/ ˈɑːɡjʊmənt /

noun

1. a quarrel; altercation

2. a discussion in which reasons are put forward in support of and against a proposition, proposal, or case; debate

   the argument on birth control will never be concluded

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

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

5. logic

   1. a process of deductive or inductive reasoning that purports to show its conclusion to be true

   2. formally, a sequence of statements one of which is the conclusion and the remainder the premises

6. logic an obsolete name for the middle term of a syllogism

7. maths

   1. an element to which an operation, function, predicate, etc, applies, esp the independent variable of a function

   2. the amplitude of a complex number

Other Word Forms

• reargument noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of argument¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English (from Old French ), from Latin argūmentum; argue, -ment

Idioms and Phrases

see under pick a quarrel.

Synonym Study

Argument, controversy, dispute imply the expression of opinions for and against some idea. An argument usually arises from a disagreement between two people, each of whom advances facts supporting their own point of view. A controversy or a dispute may involve two or more people. 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.

Example Sentences

The appellate decision allows the deployment of troops to remain paused until the court can hear further arguments.

Read more on Barron's

Increasing the urgency, Halligan faces a ticking clock on her tenure—and arguments that she isn’t legally allowed to serve in the role at all.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There are two arguments: After juries found the 37 inmates deserving of death, shouldn’t they suffer the harshest treatment short of execution?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He could try to find ways to funnel cash to farmers, but that would undermine his arguments against Democrats.

Read more on Barron's

She said she tried to "hang on" to Karen as she got on a bus after an argument over Karen stealing a cassette recorder in 1981, but she failed to stop her.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• altercation 
• bickering 
• brawl 
• clash 
• controversy 
• debate 
• disagreement 
• dispute 
• exchange 
• feud 
• quarrel 
• squabble 

When To Use

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.