contention

[kuhn-ten-shuhn]

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.

contention

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• contentional adjective
• noncontention noun
• precontention noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contention¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of contention¹

C14: from Latin contentiō exertion, from contendere to _contend

Idioms and Phrases

see bone of contention.

Example Sentences

Max Verstappen, the only other driver in realistic title contention, 36 points behind Norris, was down in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a different programme.

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Though Joe Biden's age was a major point of contention in the 2024 election campaign, four House Democrats also died in office over the last year.

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So just who will be contending for the Super Bowl in Santa Clara in February is still very much up for grabs - although a few sides have already played their way out of contention.

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Three wins and six consecutive podium finishes have lifted him back into contention after being 104 points behind at the end of August and, as he has admitted, he loves to race in Brazil.

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Bellingham conceded the free-kick in a dangerous position that led to Mac Allister's goal, offering little as Real tried to force their way back into contention, although he was not alone there.

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Related Words

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