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Synonyms

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.

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

"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
contention Idioms  

  1. see bone of contention.

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One of Senegal's points of contention is the detention of 18 Senegalese football fans in Morocco for more than two months now.

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

Olise, whose unconventional journey to Ballon d'Or contention has taken him via Reading and Crystal Palace, has 16 goals in all competitions.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The county is moving toward finalizing the proposal, and has granted it an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act — a point of contention for many residents.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

It was true that American gymnastics had evolved in recent years, with older girls like 2012 Fierce Fivers Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas now back in contention to make the 2016 Olympics team.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.