dispute

verb dis·pute \ di-ˈspyüt \

Definition of dispute

disputed; disputing

intransitive verb

:to engage in argument :debate; especially :to argue irritably or with irritating persistence

transitive verb

1 a :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.

2 a :to struggle against :oppose

disputed the advance of the invaders

b :to contend over

disputing ownership of the land

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disputable

play \di-ˈspyü-tə-bəl, ˈdis-pyə-\ adjective

—

disputably

play \-blē\ adverb

—

disputer

noun

See dispute defined for English-language learners

See dispute defined for kids

Examples of dispute in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of dispute from the Web

Earlier this year, he and other officials were enlisted to make calls to news organizations - speaking on the condition of anonymity - to dispute a New York Times article about contacts between Russians and individuals tied to the Trump campaign.

— greg miller, chicagotribune.com, "CIA keeps wary eye on director Mike Pompeo, an ardent Trump supporter," 24 Aug. 2017
Earlier this year, he and other officials were enlisted to make calls to news organizations — speaking on the condition of anonymity — to dispute a New York Times article about contacts between Russians and individuals tied to the Trump campaign.

— greg miller, Washington Post, "At CIA, a watchful eye on Mike Pompeo, the president’s ardent ally," 24 Aug. 2017
Salk officials vigorously disputed that suggestion this week.

— meredith wadman, Science | AAAS, "Leaked documents expose long-standing gender tensions at Salk Institute," 23 Aug. 2017
Despite his antagonistic response to the suggestion, Sascha’s assuredness is hardly disputed on tour.

— Longreads, "Family Band," 22 Aug. 2017
San Diegans for Full Voter Participation, its campaign consultant and its campaign treasurer have agreed to pay the fines rather than demand a hearing to dispute the charges.

— david garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Voting rights group fined for not disclosing union support for ballot measures," 11 Aug. 2017
Hunter, Dean, Crowther, and Ward have sharply disputed Meyer's findings.

— jonece starr dunigan, AL.com, "Scottsboro man charged with 28 counts of child pornography," 25 July 2017
Cook, in emails to Crane, disputed the numbers but underestimated borrowing costs.

— bill dentzer, idahostatesman, "Idaho’s treasurer spent at least $5 million too much borrowing money. Now he’s refusing a review," 25 July 2017
The evidence against the two men… was mostly circumstantial, save for the prosecutor’s disputed attempt to tie Sacco’s cap to the scene of the crime and his revolver to the shooting.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "The Biggest Trial of the 1920s Continues to Resonate," 14 July 2017

These 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.

Origin and Etymology of dispute

Middle English, from Anglo-French desputer, from Latin disputare to discuss, from dis- + putare to think

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

dispute Synonyms

Synonyms

contest, challenge, impeach, oppugn, query, question

Antonyms

accept, believe, embrace, swallow

Related Words

doubt, mistrust; kick (about), object (to), protest; combat, fight, oppose, resist

Near Antonyms

back, defend, support; advocate, champion, promote; abide, endure, stomach, tolerate

dispute

noun dis·pute \ di-ˈspyüt , ˈdis-ˌpyüt \

Definition of dispute

1 a :verbal controversy :debate

a dispute about what to do with the surplus

a landlord-tenant dispute

legal disputes

The matter is still in dispute.

b :quarrel

Police were called to a domestic dispute.

2 obsolete :physical combat

See dispute defined for English-language learners

Examples of dispute in a Sentence

They could not settle their dispute.
There is a labor dispute between workers and management.
The two farmers are involved in a land dispute.

Recent Examples of dispute from the Web

Attorney Todd Rowden, who represents the financial companies in court, said such disputes between law enforcement and lenders over property suspected of drug involvement was not uncommon.

— robert mccoppin, McHenry County, "Authorities, banks both look to seize McHenry County mansion where huge pot bust took place," 30 Aug. 2017
People reports that there were actually two incidents between October 2015 and March 2016 that took place between Brandon and his neighbor; however, the police only responded to the second dispute.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "“Pretty Little Liars” Actor Brandon Jones Sentenced to 180 Days in Jail," 29 Aug. 2017
These are live questions: A major political figure in India has recently been indicted for his role in a violent Hindu–Muslim dispute originating in — this is not a typo — 1528.

— kevin d. williamson, National Review, "A Little Diversity," 27 Aug. 2017
The ill will this time carried over to the Detroit dugout, where star pitcher Justin Verlander and teammates Victor Martinez and Nicholas Castellanos got into some sort of dispute.

— noah trister, chicagotribune.com, "Benches clear 3 times, 8 ejections during Tigers-Yankees game," 24 Aug. 2017
The couple reportedly had a history of domestic disputes due to R. Mangan's violence, and earlier in August, he'd been arrested on battery charges.

— lilian min, Cosmopolitan, "Arkansas Mom Comes Home To Horrific Family Murder-Suicide," 23 Aug. 2017
The film’s post-production was never completed, and legal disputes over the footage’s ownership and Lewis’s own embarrassment over the project have kept the film from ever being completed or released.

— gary susman, vanityfair.com, "Jerry Lewis, Comedic Force of Nature, Dies at 91," 20 Aug. 2017
This has not quieted dispute over public memorials, however, particularly as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has pursued nationalist politics.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "In German village, church bell still tolls for Hitler," 19 Aug. 2017
One witness later told police about a possible drug territory dispute.

— john diedrich, jsonline.com, "'No face, no case': How one man tried to permanently silence the witnesses to his crimes," 18 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of dispute

see ¹dispute

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1555

See Words from the same year

dispute Synonyms

Synonyms

contestation, controversy, debate, difference, difficulty, disputation, disagreement, dissension (also dissention), dissensus, firestorm, nonconcurrence

Antonyms

accord, agreement, consensus, harmony, unanimity

Related Words

clash, collision, conflict, confliction, disaccord, discord, dissonance; apartness, divarication, division; combat, contention, strife, struggle; altercation, argument, bicker, falling-out, fight, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, set-to

Near Antonyms

acceptance, compliance; concord, peace

DISPUTE Defined for English Language Learners

dispute

verb

Definition of dispute for English Language Learners

: to say or show that (something) may not be true, correct, or legal
: to argue about (something)
: to fight in order to take control of (something)

dispute

noun

Definition of dispute for English Language Learners

: a disagreement or argument

DISPUTE Defined for Kids

dispute

verb dis·pute \ di-ˈspyüt \

Definition of dispute for Students

disputed; disputing

1 :to question or deny the truth or rightness of

No one ever disputed the story.

2 :argue 1

The boys disputed over who won the race.

3 :to fight over

The two nations disputed the territory.

Word Root of dispute

The Latin word putāre, meaning “to think,” gives us the root put. Words from the Latin putāre have something to do with thinking. A reputation is what other people think about something or someone. To compute is to use math to think about a bunch of numbers together in order to answer a problem. To dispute is to argue because two or more people think different things.

dispute

noun

Definition of dispute for Students

1 :¹debate 3

It is a fact beyond dispute.

2 :¹quarrel 1

Law Dictionary

dispute

verb dis·pute \ di-ˈspyüt \

legal Definition of dispute

disputed; disputing

intransitive verb

:to engage in a dispute

disputing with management over contract terms

transitive verb

: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

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disputable

play \di-ˈspyü-tə-bəl, ˈdis-pyə-tə-bəl\ adjective

dispute

noun

legal Definition of dispute

:an assertion of opposing views or claims :a disagreement as to rights; especially :one that is the subject of proceedings for resolution (as arbitration)