disputed

American  

[dih-spyoo-tid] / dɪˈspyu tɪd /

adjective

1. argued or debated about.

   Just when and where the religious practice of the “camp meeting” originated is a disputed question.

2. argued against; called into question.

   He stood by his widely disputed claim that margarine is better for you than butter.

3. quarreled or fought over; contested.

   As negotiations continue, the security situation in the disputed territories is tense and shows signs of escalating.

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• undisputed adjective
• undisputedly adverb
• well-disputed adjective

Etymology

Origin of disputed

First recorded in 1605–15; dispute ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; dispute ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

A representative for Cathay Home, a company selling home goods through major retailers, told the BBC that the decision was made since the disputed mark was not "essential to its business".

From BBC

He said UCL had "never disputed the principle that individuals may seek legal remedies" and added: "This resolution enables us to focus on our core mission of delivering world-leading research and education."

From BBC

In 2010, a collision between a Chinese fishing vessel and the Japanese coast guard near a chain of disputed islands in the East China Sea sparked an earlier diplomatic spat between the two countries.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, the official figures are disputed by ENAG, a group of independent economists that publishes its own data every month, with the organisation saying year-on-year inflation stood at 53.4 percent in January.

From Barron's

Those claims are all strongly disputed by health experts.

From BBC

Related Words

• debatable
• moot
• unchallenged
• undecided
• undetermined
• unnoticed
• unsettled