contested

American  

[kuhn-tes-tid] / kənˈtɛs tɪd /

adjective

1. battled; fought.

   Bates pulled off the win, 82–79, in a tightly contested matchup.

2. involving a disagreement or dispute.

   The waiting period for a contested divorce has been reduced to 12 months.

3. being fought over; in dispute.

   The contested land is located 30 kilometers south of the city.

   At times, the parties may not come to an agreement, or they may only agree on some of the contested issues.

4. involving more than one candidate.

   Congressional redistricting and a contested Senate seat led to a series of competitive Michigan primaries on Tuesday.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of contest.

Other Word Forms

• uncontested
  adjective
• uncontestedly
  adverb
• well-contested
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of contested

contest ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Something that's contested is argued over or questioned. Contested election results may need to be re-counted, since the two sides can't agree on their validity. Controversial and contentious issues — like debated topics or lawsuits — are often described as "hotly contested," or energetically argued over. Elections, community issues, sporting matches, and scientific ideas are all frequently contested. The word has been used since the 1770s to describe political elections in the US, and it comes from the Latin word contestari, "to call to witness or bring action."

Example Sentences

"New Zealand faces the most adverse and contested geostrategic environment in the past 80 years," she said.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

Seven disciplines will be contested in both London and New York - the 100m hurdles, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, mile, and long jump - with an athlete's combined points determining the overall event winner.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

With swaths of Congolese territory violently contested, efforts to contain the outbreak are severely constrained, according to health officials.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The pair of videos prompted her Democratic rivals in the gubernatorial race to question Porter’s temperament, a criticism that has continued to linger during debates and throughout the hotly contested campaign.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Likewise, the celebrated rationality of the fifth century represents a retrospective bleaching of what was actually a complex and contested story.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

Related Words

• debated