To save this word, you'll need to log in.
dis·pute | \ di-ˈspyüt 
\
\disputed; disputing
Definition of dispute
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to engage in argument : debate especially : to argue irritably or with irritating persistence
1a : to make the subject of verbal controversy or disputation Legislators hotly disputed the bill.
b : to call into question or cast doubt upon
Her honesty was never disputed. The witness disputed the defendant's claim.
2a : to struggle against : oppose disputed the advance of the invaders
b : to contend over
disputing ownership of the land
dispute
noundis·pute | \ di-ˈspyüt , ˈdi-ˌspyüt \
, ˈdi-ˌspyüt \Definition of dispute (Entry 2 of 2)
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from dispute
Verb
disputable \ di-ˈspyü-tə-bəl , ˈdi-spyə- \ adjective
, ˈdi-spyə- \ adjectivedisputably \ di-ˈspyü-tə-blē , ˈdi-spyə- \ adverb
, ˈdi-spyə- \ adverbdisputer noun
Synonyms & Antonyms for dispute
Synonyms: Verb
Synonyms: Noun
- contestation,
- controversy,
- debate,
- difference,
- difficulty,
- disagreement,
- disputation,
- dissension
- (also dissention),
- dissensus,
- firestorm,
- nonconcurrence
Antonyms: Verb
Antonyms: Noun
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of dispute in a Sentence
Verb
You can dispute your bill if you believe it is inaccurate.
These estimates are hotly disputed by scientists.
No one ever disputed that it was the right decision.
The source of the text has been disputed for centuries.
a part of the city where two drug gangs are disputing territory Noun
They could not settle their dispute.
There is a labor dispute between workers and management.
The two farmers are involved in a land dispute.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb On both issues, Google CEO Sundar Pichai did not directly dispute the claims, but instead argued that Google is focused on trying to make its products better for users.
—
Brian Fung, CNN, "Tech titans had their day before Congress. Now what?," 31 July 2020 Officials from Washington did not dispute those conclusions.
—
Jessica Menton, USA TODAY, "'I hide in the bathroom and cry': Americans struggle with unemployment delays," 13 July 2020 On Sunday, his spokeswoman, Katie Miller, appeared to dispute reports that the vice president would cancel upcoming trips to Arizona and Florida over virus concerns, saying on Twitter that Pence will still travel to both states this week.
—
Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, "Live updates: Arizona, Florida, Texas are latest coronavirus epicenters," 28 June 2020 But experts dispute Trump's claims about vote-by-mail.
—
William Cummings, USA TODAY, "'If it's close – watch out': Biden says he has 600 lawyers ready to fight election 'chicanery' by Trump," 3 July 2020 Critics dispute that, claiming that Eaze played an active role in setting up the necessary infrastructure.
—
Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "IT pros indicted after arranging credit card payments for weed startup," 8 July 2020 The company has 15 days after citations are issued to respond to OSHA’s findings and dispute the fines.
—
al, "Pilgrim’s Pride fined nearly $27,000 for violations found after Alabama worker’s death," 7 July 2020 Attorneys for the family dispute the police account and say Lemp was sleeping at the time police opened fire.
—
Cary Spivak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'Apparently I picked the wrong guy': Glenn Grothman used name of boogaloo martyr Duncan Lemp during debate on police reform," 30 June 2020 Science reported that the Robert Koch Institute had written to the New England Journal to dispute her findings and correct an error.
—
Matt Apuzzo, BostonGlobe.com, "How the world missed COVID-19’s silent spread," 27 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Burger King worker slain over delay in order: Authorities in Florida say a Burger King worker was fatally shot Saturday night after a dispute over a delay in a food order.
—
Washington Post, "National Digest: Marines, sailor presumed dead after going missing in Calif.," 2 Aug. 2020 July 22 responded to a dispute involving two women on Madison near Grace Avenue.
—
Bruce Geiselman, cleveland, "Police respond to breaking and entering, vehicle theft, assault: Lakewood Police Blotter," 1 Aug. 2020 Swan acknowledged that there is dispute within the intelligence community about the bounty reports.
—
Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, "This must-watch 'Axios on HBO' interview with Trump picks up where Chris Wallace left off," 31 July 2020 The dispute over the transfer of MyTheresa to Neiman Marcus former shareholders Ares Management and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board was resolved with the creditors committee.
—
Maria Halkias, Dallas News, "Neiman Marcus moves closer to its bankruptcy exit," 31 July 2020 Siemens named Busch to succeed Kaeser in March, and said two senior managers would depart after a dispute over strategy.
—
Iain Rogers, Bloomberg.com, "Busch to Take Over Early as Siemens CEO in October," 31 July 2020 There is a big dispute in the scientific community, however, about both the size and the behavior of these particles, and the resolution of that question would change many recommendations about staying safe.
—
Zeynep Tufekci, The Atlantic, "We Need to Talk About Ventilation," 30 July 2020 The city cited a 2001 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that found tear gas use by Eugene police was constitutional after police warned protesters and there was no dispute that a small group in a crowd had become violent.
—
oregonlive, "City, Multnomah County detail violence, damage, cost of repairs in response to Don’t Shoot Portland’s motion to restrict tear gas, less-lethal weapons," 8 July 2020 There may be a dispute in the scientific community about whether Pluto deserves to be a planet, but researchers have found evidence that the dwarf planet may have had an ocean billions of years ago.
—
Fox News, "Pluto likely has an ocean buried beneath its frozen exterior, study reveals," 23 June 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dispute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for dispute
dispute
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of dispute
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to say or show that (something) may not be true, correct, or legal
: to argue about (something)
formal : to fight in order to take control of (something)
dispute
noun English Language Learners Definition of dispute (Entry 2 of 2)
: a disagreement or argument
See the full definition for dispute in the English Language Learners Dictionary
dispute
verbdis·pute | \ di-ˈspyüt \
\disputed; disputing
Kids Definition of dispute
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to question or deny the truth or rightness of
No one ever disputed the story.
2 : argue sense 1 The boys disputed over who won the race.
3 : to fight over
The two nations disputed the territory.
dispute
nounKids Definition of dispute (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : debate entry 1 sense 3 It is a fact beyond dispute.
dispute
verbdis·pute | \ di-ˈspyüt \
\disputed; disputing
Legal Definition of dispute
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to engage in a dispute
disputing with management over contract terms
: to engage in a dispute over
disputing the correct application of the contract provision especially : to oppose by argument or assertion disputed changes to the grievance procedure
Other Words from dispute
disputable \ di-ˈspyü-tə-bəl, ˈdis-pyə-tə-bəl \ adjective
\ adjectivedispute
nounLegal Definition of dispute (Entry 2 of 2)
: an assertion of opposing views or claims : a disagreement as to rights especially : one that is the subject of proceedings for resolution (as arbitration)
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on dispute
What made you want to look up dispute? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Original Meanings Quiz
- Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share dispute
Time Traveler for dispute
The first known use of dispute was in the 13th century
See more words from the same century