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

: rivalry, competition

Synonyms

• argument
• assertion
• thesis

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

Sometimes there is contention over whether singers who are already in the Hall of Fame, as group members, really need to be pushed to the front of the line as solo artists, too, ahead of other contenders. —Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Apr. 2024

Miami led by as many as 30 points in the second half against a Toronto team already well out of playoff contention. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024

Scottie Scheffler holds a one-shot lead, while Tiger Woods recorded his worst-ever score at The Masters to drop out of contention. —Andrew Torgan, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024

One thing that does not appear to be changing anytime soon is Netflix’s strategy regarding theatrical release, a bone of contention with some filmmakers and stars — not to mention theater owners. —Nicole Sperling, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024

Among left-leaning families there is contention over America's traditional support of Israel given the conflict in Gaza. —Belinda Luscombe, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024

Given his consequence, there will long be contention over his legacy. —The Editors, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024

The renegotiated agreement also marks the full independence of Atlas, officially ending an investment management agreement that was first established between Apollo and Credit Suisse in February 2023 that became a source of contention following Credit Suisse’s absorption by UBS last June. —Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2024

So do debates on political preferences, or any contention on the role of environmental, social, and governance issues, Resta said. —Peter Vanham, Fortune Europe, 26 Mar. 2024

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

Phrases Containing contention

• in contention
• in contention for
• out of contention for
• point of contention

Kids 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)