issue

[ ish-oo or, especially British, is-yoo ]

/ ˈɪʃ u or, especially British, ˈɪs yu /

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See synonyms for: issue / issued / issues / issuing on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of sending out or putting forth; promulgation; distribution: the issue of food and blankets to flood victims.

something that is printed or published and distributed, especially a given number of a periodical: Have you seen the latest issue of the magazine?

something that is sent out or put forth in any form.

a quantity of something that is officially offered for sale or put into circulation at one time: a new issue of commemorative stamps;a new bond issue.

a point in question or a matter that is in dispute, as between contending parties in an action at law.

a point, matter, or dispute, the decision of which is of special or public importance: the political issues.

a point, the decision of which determines a matter: The real issue in the strike was the right to bargain collectively.

a point at which a matter is ready for decision: to bring a case to an issue.

something proceeding from any source, as a product, effect, result, or consequence: His words were the issue of an intelligent man.

Often issues .

a personal or emotional problem: I had issues that prevented me from doing well in school.
any problem or difficulty: Sorry I'm late—I had an issue with parking.

the ultimate result, event, or outcome of a proceeding, affair, etc.: the issue of a contest.

a distribution of food rations, clothing, equipment, or ammunition to a number of officers or enlisted soldiers, or to a military unit.

offspring; progeny: to die without issue.

a going, coming, passing, or flowing out: free issue and entry.

a place or means of egress; outlet or exit.

something that comes out, as an outflowing stream.

Pathology.

a discharge of blood, pus, or the like.
an incision, ulcer, or the like, emitting such a discharge.

is·sues, English Law. the profits from land or other property.

the printing of copies of a work from the original setting of type with some slight changes: the third issue of the poem.

Obsolete. a proceeding or action.

verb (used with object), is·sued, is·su·ing.

to put out; deliver for use, sale, etc.; put into circulation.

to mint, print, or publish for sale or distribution: to issue a new coin;to issue a reprint of a book.

to give or grant officially to a particular person or group: The United States is the first country to issue a patent for an animal developed using biological techniques.

to distribute (food, clothing, equipment, etc.) to members of the military, employees, students, etc.

to send out; discharge; emit.

verb (used without object), is·sued, is·su·ing.

to go, pass, or flow out; come forth; emerge: to issue forth to battle.

to be sent, put forth, or distributed authoritatively or publicly, as a legal writ or money.

to be published, as a book.

to originate or proceed from any source.

to arise as a result or consequence; result: a reaction that issues from the stimulus.

Chiefly Law. to proceed as offspring, or be born or descended.

Chiefly Law. to come as a yield or profit, as from land.

Archaic. to have the specified outcome, result, etc. (often followed by in).

Obsolete. to end; terminate.

OTHER WORDS FOR issue

2 edition, printing.

5, 7 crux.

6, 7 problem, question.

11 upshot, conclusion, end.

29 flow, emanate, arise, spring.

30 ensue.

See synonyms for issue on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR issue

26 return.

See antonyms for issue on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about issue

at issue,

being disputed or under discussion.
being at opposite viewpoints; in disagreement: Medical experts are still at issue over the proper use of tranquilizers.

join issue,

to enter into controversy or take exception to.
to submit an issue jointly for legal decision.

take issue, to disagree; dispute: He took issue with me on my proposal for a new advertising campaign.

Origin of issue

First recorded in 1275–1325; from Middle English, from Middle French: “place or passage out”; from Old French (e)issue, from unattested Vulgar Latin exūta, noun use of feminine of unattested exūtus, Latin exitus “act or means of going out,” for the noun senses; from Middle English issuen, derivative of the noun, or from Middle French, Old French (e)issu, past participle of issir “to go out” (ultimately derived from Latin exīre ) for the verb senses; see exit¹

OTHER WORDS FROM issue

is·sue·less, adjectiveis·su·er, nounout·is·sue, verb (used with object), out·is·sued, out·is·su·ing.pre·is·sue, noun, verb (used with object), pre·is·sued, pre·is·su·ing.

self-is·su·ing, adjectiveun·der·is·sue, noun

Words nearby issue

ISSN, ISSP, issuable, issuance, issuant, issue, issued, issue par, issue price, issuing house, Issus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say issue?

To issue is to go, pass, or flow out. How is issue different from emanate and emerge? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

How to use issue in a sentence

He was more explicit about this disparagement during an event in Pennsylvania earlier this year, when he charged that Biden “has got some big issues” because the former vice president is so often seen wearing a mask.
In 160 words, Trump reveals how little he cares about the pandemic|Philip Bump|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
They want to pass good legislation, because it’s not just a political-messaging issue.
Why House Democrats have good reason to be anxious about no coronavirus relief deal|Amber Phillips|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Among them, 61 percent said voter fraud is a major problem with voting by mail, with only 1 percent saying it’s not an issue at all.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
If you run into any issues at the polls during early voting or on Election Day, ask a poll worker for help.
ProPublica’s Pandemic Guide to Making Sure Your Vote Counts|by Susie Armitage|September 16, 2020|ProPublica

This tactic is now becoming more overt, and it is spreading to other issues.
Trump’s increasingly overt effort to pretend Biden is actually president|Aaron Blake|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
But the tide was turning on this issue, an email from another constituent made clear.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Like many Americans—but few Republican presidential candidates—the former Florida governor has evolved on the issue.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The most recent issue contains detailed instructions for building car bombs, and the magazine frequently draws up hit-lists.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“They are hypocritical on this very issue,” Shearer said about Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and other public officials.
Harry Shearer on The Dangerous Business of Satire|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In this cockamamie get-rich scheme, would they all issue an apology if he cut a check?
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers|Stereo Williams|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The place was well defended by earthworks and natural parapets, and for several hours the issue of the contest was doubtful.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
In one sense, then, the new issue has adequate expansibility for ordinary needs.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
Accordingly, the question "How far does the note issue under the new system seem likely to prove an elastic one?"
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
From that region they issue to inflict diseases, especially blindness and deafness.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
That—and no existing institution and no current issue—is the primary concern of the present age.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

British Dictionary definitions for issue

issue

/ (ˈɪʃuː, ˈɪsjuː) /

noun

the act of sending or giving out something; supply; delivery

something issued; an edition of stamps, a magazine, etc

the number of identical items, such as banknotes or shares in a company, that become available at a particular time

the act of emerging; outflow; discharge

something flowing out, such as a river

a place of outflow; outlet

the descendants of a person; offspring; progeny

a topic of interest or discussion

an important subject requiring a decision

an outcome or consequence; result

pathol

a suppurating sore
discharge from a wound

law the matter remaining in dispute between the parties to an action after the pleadings

the yield from or profits arising out of land or other property

military the allocation of items of government stores, such as food, clothing, and ammunition

library science

the system for recording current loans
the number of books loaned in a specified period

obsolete an act, deed, or proceeding

at issue

under discussion
in disagreement

force the issue to compel decision on some matter

join issue

to join in controversy
to submit an issue for adjudication

take issue to disagree

verb -sues, -suing or -sued

to come forth or emerge or cause to come forth or emerge

to publish or deliver (a newspaper, magazine, etc)

(tr) to make known or announce

(intr) to originate or proceed

(intr) to be a consequence; result

(intr foll by in) to end or terminate

(tr)

to give out or allocate (equipment, a certificate, etc) officially to someone
(foll by with) to supply officially (with)

Derived forms of issue

issueless, adjectiveissuer, noun

Word Origin for issue

C13: from Old French eissue way out, from eissir to go out, from Latin exīre, from ex- 1 + īre to go

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with issue

issue

see at issue; take issue with.

issue

OTHER WORDS FOR issue

OPPOSITES FOR issue

Idioms about issue

Origin of issue

OTHER WORDS FROM issue

Words nearby issue

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say issue?

Words related to issue

How to use issue in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for issue

Derived forms of issue

Word Origin for issue

Other Idioms and Phrases with issue