disputed
Americanadjective
-
argued or debated about.
Just when and where the religious practice of the “camp meeting” originated is a disputed question.
-
argued against; called into question.
He stood by his widely disputed claim that margarine is better for you than butter.
-
quarreled or fought over; contested.
As negotiations continue, the security situation in the disputed territories is tense and shows signs of escalating.
verb
Other Word Forms
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
China has since warned its citizens against travel to Japan and imposed trade restrictions, while also conducting regular patrols around disputed islands.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Pope Alexander II may therefore have supported William for reasons that went well beyond Harold's disputed claim to the English throne.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
The army, which also suffered casualties, disputed it had ceded control - but said its soldiers had to "retreat temporarily".
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
“Theoretically, the courts have the authority to temporarily block the disputed development,” Sotir Dhamo, an urban planning professor at Polis University in Tirana, said of contested properties facing development.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
At this stage, the accuracy of the quotes have not been disputed.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
