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Meaning & use

disputant

noun·Advancedformal

Last updated

UK/dɪˈspjuːtənt/
US/dɪˈspjuːtənt/

Meaning

  1. nouncountableformal

    A person who takes part in a disagreement or argument, especially a formal one.

    Grammar: Countable noun: one disputant, two disputants. Often used in formal or legal contexts.

    Patterns

    • a disputant in something
    • the disputants in a case

    The two disputants finally reached a settlement.

    Each disputant presented their evidence to the committee.

    The disputants refused to speak to each other after the hearing.

Word forms

pluraldisputants

Common combinations

a disputant in a dispute
She was a disputant in the lengthy legal dispute.
the disputants involved
The mediator listened to all the disputants involved.
a party disputant
Each party disputant had a lawyer present.

Synonyms and how they differ

arguer
More informal and often suggests someone who argues frequently or for no strong reason.
litigant
Specifically a person involved in a lawsuit; disputant is broader and can refer to any disagreement.
contender
Focuses on competition rather than disagreement; disputant is about arguing a point.

Word family

dispute noun
A disagreement or argument.
dispute verb
To argue about or question something.
disputable adjective
Open to question or disagreement.

Commonly confused: disputant or dispute?

disputant vs dispute

Dispute is the disagreement itself or the act of arguing; a disputant is a person who argues.

Practice

In the formal debate, each __________ was given five minutes to state their case.

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