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

Explanation

A disputation is a formal argument or debate, like the heated but thoughtful disputation your classmates have over whether Marvel or DC Comics is superior. The term disputation comes from a Latin root, disputare, meaning "weigh, examine, discuss, argue, or explain." A true disputation is careful and well thought-out, and it often takes place in a scholarly or academic setting. Formal debates are one type of disputation, and going all the way back to the Middle Ages, disputations were often religious in nature. Theological disputations between Jewish and Christian scholars were common in 13th century Europe, for example.

Example Sentences

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 • Feb. 6, 2023

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 • Jan. 20, 2023

Rather than merely presenting an interpretation of Christian thought and expecting students to absorb it verbatim, scholastic teachers used disputation with students to hone their students’ argumentative skills, insight, and logical analysis.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2020

“The potential I sensed in this story was a debate, an almost Talmudic disputation, between a progressive and a conservative,” he said in an interview.

From New York Times • Dec. 20, 2019

According to Kuhn, revolution always brings with it disputation and conflict; since there was virtually no disputation, it is all too easy to assume that there can have been no revolution.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton