Contention
noun /kənˈtɛnʃən/ — A point of dispute — or the heated argument itself.
Definition
Heated disagreement; a point made in an argument; a competition or rivalry for a position; the state of asserting something as true in argument.
Beyond the definition
Contention is the word for the argument that has heat — not the calm academic disagreement but the live, contested ground. 'My contention is' is a rhetorical formulation that signals you're about to hold ground.
Origin & history
From Latin contentio — a stretching, a struggle (from contendere: to stretch, strive against). Stretching against — contention as the two forces pulling in opposite directions.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
My contention is that the evidence doesn't support the conclusion — and I'm prepared to say why.
The contention between the parties was real and long-standing; any resolution was going to require concession.
Bone of contention: the one thing two people keep returning to, the knot that won't dissolve.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Contention” when the meaning fits your context: Heated disagreement; a point made in an argument; a competition or rivalry for a position; the state of asserting something as true in argument.
Synonyms
dispute, argument, disagreement, debate, rivalry
Antonyms
agreement, consensus, harmony
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Heated and Hostile Dispute
Two adults engage in an angry, pointed argument at a table, their facial expressions making the verbal hostility clear.
The physical posture of the arguing adults and the hostile, pointed gestures clearly represent a state of contention. Their disagreement is visibly heated, showcasing the struggle between them as they argue their points and resist each other's influence.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Contention" mean?
Contention is noun meaning: A point of dispute — or the heated argument itself.. Heated disagreement; a point made in an argument; a competition or rivalry for a position; the state of asserting something as true in argument.
Where does the word "Contention" come from?
From Latin contentio — a stretching, a struggle (from contendere: to stretch, strive against). Stretching against — contention as the two forces pulling in opposite directions.