bone of contention

American  

noun

1. a subject, cause, or focal point of a dispute.

   The terms of the old man's will were a bone of contention to his survivors.

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bone of contention British  

noun

1. the grounds or subject of a dispute

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bone of contention Idioms  

1. Main issue of a disagreement; something to quarrel about. For example, Grandfather's will was a bone of contention for the whole family. This expression alludes to two dogs fighting (contending) over a single bone. In slightly different guise, bone of dissension, it was used figuratively in the 16th century and took its present form in the early 1700s.

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Etymology

Origin of bone of contention

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

Arguably the biggest, and certainly the most long-standing, bone of contention is nuclear.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

One bone of contention: proposed studio units that he and some other local business owners say their workers neither want nor need.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

In Sudan, another bone of contention between the Gulf states, Saudi Arabia and the United States handed a new ceasefire proposal to Sudan's army, a government source told AFP this week.

From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026

The murky value of Warner’s cable channel portfolio has become a bone of contention in the company’s sale.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026

The remaining bone of contention is a thorn in his side and an albatross around his neck.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner