Meaning & use
friction point
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A specific issue or situation that causes disagreement or tension between people or groups.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a friction point' for one, 'friction points' for several.
Patterns
- a friction point between someone and someone
- a friction point in something
- cause/be a friction point
The division of household chores became a major friction point in their marriage.
During the negotiations, the question of pay was the main friction point.
They identified several friction points in the team's workflow.
Word forms
| plural | friction points |
|---|
Common combinations
- a major friction point
- The new policy proved to be a major friction point for employees.
- become a friction point
- What started as a small disagreement soon became a friction point.
- identify friction points
- The consultant helped them identify friction points in customer service.
- a friction point between
- There is a friction point between the sales and engineering teams.
Synonyms and how they differ
- point of contention
- More formal; often used in legal or official contexts, whereas 'friction point' is slightly more conversational.
- bone of contention
- An idiom meaning a subject of disagreement; it is stronger and more idiomatic than 'friction point'.
- sticking point
- Specifically a problem that stops progress in a discussion; 'friction point' can be any source of tension, not necessarily a blockage.
Opposites
Word family
- friction noun
- The general state of disagreement or the physical force that resists movement.
Commonly confused: friction point or friction?
friction point vs friction
Friction is the general tension or the physical force; a friction point is a specific issue that causes it.
Practice
The main ___ in the talks was the border dispute.
Choose one answer.
'Friction point' fits because it refers to a specific issue causing disagreement. 'Friction' alone is too general and would need a different structure (e.g., 'a source of friction').
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “friction point”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.