contention

noun

con·​ten·​tion kən-ˈten(t)-shən How to pronounce contention (audio)
1
: a point advanced or maintained in a debate or argument
It is his contention that allowing a casino to be built would not be in the best interests of the city.
2
: an act or instance of contending
He has taken himself out of contention for the directorship.
3
Choose the Right Synonym for contention

discord, strife, conflict, contention, dissension, variance mean a state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony.

discord implies an intrinsic or essential lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism.

a political party long racked by discord

strife emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.

during his brief reign the empire was never free of civil strife

conflict usually stresses the action of forces in opposition but in static applications implies an irreconcilability as of duties or desires.

the conflict of freedom and responsibility

contention applies to strife or competition that shows itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy.

several points of contention about the new zoning law

dissension implies strife or discord and stresses a division into factions.

religious dissension threatened to split the colony

variance implies a clash between persons or things owing to a difference in nature, opinion, or interest.

cultural variances that work against a national identity

Examples of contention in a Sentence

Tiger Woods splashed his way into contention in the New Zealand Open … shooting a four under par to close within six strokes of the lead. New York Times, 13 Jan. 2002
The issues behind the protest are the usual bones of collective-bargaining contention: pay increases, vacation time, union membership. Louis Menand, New Yorker, 17 & 24 June 2002
Science, and academic scholarship in general, the contention these days goes, is too subjective. Some even allege it's entirely subjective, as is, they say, history. Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1996
All quotes from QDB.
That has been a source of contention for years. He is in contention for the Olympic medal.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Angels' recent history has led many to predict Jansen will be traded ahead of the August deadline if the Angels fall out of contention as expected. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025 The trial for Morteza Amiri and Devon Wenger will test the government’s contention that the two men used the power of their badges to intimidate, injure and oppress the people of the city they were supposed to serve. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025 Labor unions have also disputed the contention that requiring people to commute to work again increases productivity. Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2025 His phenomenal performances have thrust him into the contention for the Ballon d’Or, a competition now fiercely contested by global superstars like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contention

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contencioun "dissension, dispute," borrowed from Anglo-French cuntençun, contencion, borrowed from Latin contentiōn-, contentiō "exertion, competition, conflict," from conten-, variant stem of contendere "to strain, make an effort, strive, compete" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at contend

Note: Regarding the variant -ten- with deverbal suffixes beginning in -t- (so contentiō rather than *contensiō), see the note at tender entry 3.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of contention was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Contention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contention. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

contention

noun
con·​ten·​tion kən-ˈten-chən How to pronounce contention (audio)
1
: an act or instance of contending
2
: an idea or point for which a person argues (as in a debate or argument)

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