contested

American  

[kuhn-tes-tid] / kənˈtɛs tɪd /

adjective

1. battled; fought.

   Bates pulled off the win, 82–79, in a tightly contested matchup.

2. involving a disagreement or dispute.

   The waiting period for a contested divorce has been reduced to 12 months.

3. being fought over; in dispute.

   The contested land is located 30 kilometers south of the city.

   At times, the parties may not come to an agreement, or they may only agree on some of the contested issues.

4. involving more than one candidate.

   Congressional redistricting and a contested Senate seat led to a series of competitive Michigan primaries on Tuesday.

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• uncontested adjective
• uncontestedly adverb
• well-contested adjective

Etymology

Origin of contested

contest ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Oil prices dropped sharply Wednesday after a volatile day of trading as investors assessed the likelihood of war ending and of tanker traffic resuming through a contested waterway.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

A relatively new missile-toting unit of Marines, based on Okinawa, is designed to fight in a contested littoral battlespace by dispersing, concealing themselves, and taking out enemy ships and aircraft.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

But he also stresses that overwhelming participation and public organizing are the ultimate backstops if election results are contested.

From Slate • Mar. 28, 2026

According to The New York Times, the 15-point US plan touches on Iran's contested nuclear and missile programs as well as "maritime routes".

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Public transportation was just one arena in which North Carolina blacks contested second-class status.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• debated