contention

American  

[kuhn-ten-shuhn] / kənˈtɛn ʃən /

noun

1. a struggling together in opposition; strife.

   Synonyms:

   combat, conflict

2. a striving in rivalry; competition; contest.

3. strife in debate; dispute; controversy.

   Synonyms:

   altercation, debate, dissension, disagreement

   Antonyms:

   agreement

4. a point contended for or affirmed in controversy.

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contention British  

/ kənˈtɛnʃən /

noun

1. a struggling between opponents; competition

2. dispute in an argument (esp in the phrase bone of contention )

3. a point asserted in argument

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contention Idioms  

1. see bone of contention.

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Other Word Forms

• contentional adjective
• noncontention noun
• precontention noun

Etymology

Origin of contention

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin contentiōn-, stem of contentiō; from content(us) “competed, striven” (past participle of contendere “to compete, strive, draw tight”; contend ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

But it is copper, now an irreplaceable metal for the economy, that has become the object of global strategic contention.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Arteta confirmed Eze will miss the game through injury, but Odegaard and Timber are in contention to return, while Madueke's injury is not as bad as first feared and is a doubt.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Sotillo said “the valorization of César Chávez in our department has been a point of contention since before I even arrived.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

Indeed, the price of a rescheduled summit has become a central point of contention.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Slavery had been outlawed in Britain in 1807, but it still caused contention among some of the British upper class.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Related Words

• allegation
• assertion
• belief
• claim
• discussion
• explanation
• hypothesis
• idea
• opinion
• plea
• position
• thesis