contention
noun
con·ten·tion
kən-ˈten(t)-shən 
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
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.
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
The investigation also recommended fire officers and firefighters be trained in mayday operations, which was another bone of contention for Alston who maintains that all firefighters receive mayday training.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2025
Not now, after such a promising early run, then falling back in the field, then muscling his way back onto the lead lap and into contention.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 May 2025
The first one practically eliminated Maryland from title contention as the Big Red went ahead, 10-7, with 13 minutes and 42 seconds left in the game.
—Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 26 May 2025
Ventura’s former best friend, Kerry Morgan, corroborated Ventura’s account in her own testimony, saying on the stand that Gina was source of contention between Ventura and Combs.
—Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for contention
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Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 May 2025
Not now, after such a promising early run, then falling back in the field, then muscling his way back onto the lead lap and into contention.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 May 2025
The first one practically eliminated Maryland from title contention as the Big Red went ahead, 10-7, with 13 minutes and 42 seconds left in the game.
—Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 26 May 2025
Ventura’s former best friend, Kerry Morgan, corroborated Ventura’s account in her own testimony, saying on the stand that Gina was source of contention between Ventura and Combs.
—Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for contention
Cite this Entry
“Contention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contention. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contention
noun
con·ten·tion
kən-ˈten-chən
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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