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

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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

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

How to use issue in a sentence

As I fought, I noted some camera issues which made me disoriented in corners.
‘Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity’: A semi-satisfying new piece of the ‘Zelda’ universe|Harold Goldberg|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
A video montage highlighted various issues — the coronavirus pandemic, a mental health crisis and protests against inequality — as Balvin stood underneath a massive sculpture of praying hands.
Latin Grammys 2020: 5 things you missed, from Bad Bunny’s performance to Pitbull honoring front-line workers|Bethonie Butler|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
He feels his issues are understandable and that society has the problem, not him.
Carolyn Hax: Cellphones push his buttons, and he pushes back|Carolyn Hax|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
“What’s left is probably a lot smaller than some of the plaintiffs’ attorneys had hoped for, and carries with it other potential issues,” Mason said in an interview.
Boy Scouts must settle 95,000 abuse claims by next summer — or risk running out of cash|Samantha Schmidt|November 19, 2020|Washington Post

Through articles known as editorials, this team shares opinions on major issues of public importance.
Bogus crowd photos at 'Million MAGA March’ and other news literacy lessons|Valerie Strauss|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
“Management” in this situation means issuing permits for trophy grizzly hunts.
What It Takes to Kill a Grizzly Bear|Doug Peacock|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With regards to Patterson, the cops ended up issuing him four citations, two per eaglet.
He Faces Jail for Rescuing Baby Eagles|Michael Daly|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Louisiana university has turned into a nanny state, issuing a campus smoking ban of dubious legality.
The University Of New Orleans’ Cigarette Ban Is Total BS|Chloé Valdary|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The state is now issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The State Where the Right Won the Culture War|Michael Tomasky|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the time, Facebook apologized for issuing a block to the page.
ReaganBook Is the Latest Conservative #Fail|Gideon Resnick|July 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was accustomed, at his return, or issuing from his gates, to be hailed and lackied by the acclamations of the populace.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Before issuing the order the Board consented to hear any representations which the railways desired to make.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Of late years private corporations have been issuing a kind of stock, called preferred, that must be explained.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
The other figures explain themselves by the aid of the labels issuing from their mouths.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper
The premium usually must be paid at the time of issuing the policy, unless a different agreement is made concerning it.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

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 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