Meaning & use

contention

noun·Academic

A point of disagreement or dispute, or the act of arguing about something.

See it in a sentence

The exact cause of the fire remains a point of contention among investigators.

Her main contention was that the plan ignored the needs of small businesses.

A note on using this word

"Contention" can mean a disagreement itself or, in formal writing, a specific claim someone is arguing for.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

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