Debate
noun / verb /dɪˈbeɪt/ — A formal or public argument — where positions are tested against each other in structure.
Definition
A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward; a formal contest in which opposing sides argue for and against a proposition.
Beyond the definition
Debate is argument given structure — the formal procedure that makes contention productive. In the best debates, the stronger argument is supposed to win. The discipline of debate teaches not just how to argue but how to understand what you're arguing against.
Origin & history
From Old French debatre — to fight, beat down (de: down + batre: to beat). Beating down arguments — debate as the arena where claims are struck against each other until one gives way.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The debate revealed not who was right but who had prepared more thoroughly.
She'd learned to debate by arguing both sides — which cured her of certainty.
Debate: the formal recognition that disagreement is not pathology but process.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Debate” when the meaning fits your context: A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward; a formal contest in which opposing sides argue for and against a proposition.
Synonyms
discussion, argument, deliberation, discourse, contention
Antonyms
monologue, silence, agreement
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
Opposing Philosophical Paths
Two adults stand at a crossroads in the woods, pointing to different paths—one toward light, one toward shadow—in serious discussion.
The two adults pointing to different paths represent a formal debate, as they argue for fundamentally opposing ways of seeing the world. The crossroads setting captures the tension of their discussion, where each must defend their chosen path and philosophical perspective.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Debate" mean?
Debate is noun / verb meaning: A formal or public argument — where positions are tested against each other in structure.. A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward; a formal contest in which opposing sides argue for and against a proposition.
Where does the word "Debate" come from?
From Old French debatre — to fight, beat down (de: down + batre: to beat). Beating down arguments — debate as the arena where claims are struck against each other until one gives way.