dispute

[dih-spyoot]

verb (used without object)

disputed, disputing 

1. to engage in argument or debate.

   She liked nothing more than to dispute with her fellow law students.

2. to argue vehemently; wrangle or quarrel.

   Those two are always disputing about something or other.

   Synonyms: squabble, bicker

verb (used with object)

disputed, disputing 

1. to argue or debate about; discuss.

   Whether excessive time spent on the internet can be called an addiction is hotly disputed.

2. to argue against; call into question.

   Historians dispute this claim, suggesting Raleigh could not possibly have discovered the potato in the places he visited.

3. to quarrel or fight about; contest.

   We stopped to watch a puffed-up crow disputing territory with a cat.

4. Archaic.,  to strive against; oppose.

   to dispute an advance of troops.

noun

1. a debate, controversy, or difference of opinion.

   Players were elated when the equal pay dispute was finally resolved.

2. a wrangling argument; quarrel.

   Some women at the end of the bar were having a noisy dispute about who should be the designated driver.

   Synonyms: bickering, squabble, wrangle, altercation, disputation

dispute

verb

1. to argue, debate, or quarrel about (something)

2. (tr; may take a clause as object) to doubt the validity, etc, of

3. (tr) to seek to win; contest for

4. (tr) to struggle against; resist

noun

1. an argument or quarrel

Other Word Forms

• disputer noun
• disputeless adjective
• predispute noun
• redispute verb
• undisputing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dispute¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English verb disputen, dispuiten, desputen, either from Anglo-French, Old French desputer or directly from Latin disputāre “to argue a point,” equivalent to dis- dis- ¹ + putāre “to reckon, consider”; noun derivative of the verb; putative

Word History and Origins

Origin of dispute¹

C13: from Late Latin disputāre to contend verbally, from Latin: to discuss, from _dis- ¹ + putāre to think

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in dispute,

   1. being fought or argued over; debated or contested; unresolved.

      The authorship of the recently discovered text is in dispute.

      Both countries argue that the territories in dispute originally belonged to them.

   2. engaged in an argument or disagreement.

      The program enables parties in dispute to settle their differences over the internet without face-to-face mediation.

see in dispute.

Synonym Study

See argument.

Example Sentences

The chair of Ferrari and Stellantis has agreed to do one year of community service and jointly pay millions of euros to settle a dispute over inheritance tax in Italy.

From BBC

While there was no suggestion that his family had assisted him, given the custody dispute, there have been questions about whether someone who knew him was helping him remain hidden or knew of his whereabouts.

From BBC

Manchester City and the Premier League have reached a settlement in their dispute over the rules that govern commercial deals.

From BBC

The plan has denied wrongdoing and is seeking an administrative hearing to dispute the allegations.

From Los Angeles Times

Months of tension along disputed parts of their border erupted into open conflict in July, leaving around 40 people dead.

From BBC

Related Words

• bickering 
• brawl 
• conflict 
• controversy 
• debate 
• disagreement 
• discord 
• discussion 
• disturbance 
• feud 
• friction 
• misunderstanding 
• quarrel 
• row 
• squabble 
• strife 
• wrangle