disputation

American  

[dis-pyoo-tey-shuhn] / ˌdɪs pyʊˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of disputing or debating; verbal controversy; discussion or debate.

2. an academic exercise consisting of the arguing of a thesis between its maintainer and its opponents.

3. Obsolete.  conversation.

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disputation British  

/ ˌdɪspjʊˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of arguing

2. a formal academic debate on a thesis

3. an obsolete word for conversation

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Other Word Forms

• predisputation noun

Etymology

Origin of disputation

1350–1400; Middle English disputacioun < Latin disputātiōn- (stem of disputātiō ), equivalent to disputāt ( us ) (past participle of disputāre; disput- ( dispute ) + -ātus -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion; replacing desputisoun < Old French

Example Sentences

Luther’s theses were written in Latin as an academic/theological disputation about the practice of indulgences, which were a million miles from a freewheeling, secular, new-age fashion such as Twitter.

From Washington Post

This pre-Renaissance tradition was that of the disputatio, or disputation, by which university lecturers and other public pundits were expected to allow periods of time for counterarguments regarding their ideas, theories and general assertions.

From Washington Post

What happens is a version of what former philosophy students and debate-happy internet smarties will recognize as the Trolley Problem, a chestnut of hypothetical ethical disputation.

From New York Times

Santos's angry disputation was soon undermined after Rochard released a high-quality photo which appeared to show Santos wearing the same red feathered dress as in the first image.

From Salon

In his opening remarks, the former vice-presidential nominee called arguments against statehood “legalistic disputations and ultimately excuses for something that is inexcusable.”

From Washington Post