dispute

verb

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dis·pute | \ di-ˈspyüt

disputed; disputing

Definition of dispute

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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

noun

dis·pute | \ di-ˈspyüt

, ˈdi-ˌspyüt

Definition of dispute (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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

Other Words from dispute Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About dispute

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Other Words from dispute

Verb

disputable \ di-ˈspyü-tə-bəl

, ˈdi-spyə- \ adjective

disputably \ di-ˈspyü-tə-blē

, ˈdi-spyə- \ adverb

disputer noun

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.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Phelan’s office did not dispute that characterization of events. — Cayla Harris, San Antonio Express-News, 3 June 2021 The San Diego Housing Commission issued a statement Friday that did not dispute any of the Voice of San Diego report. — Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2021 The Louisiana State Police did not dispute AP’s characterizations of the body-camera footage Wednesday and declined to share the video, saying federal and state authorities are still reviewing Greene’s death. — Washington Post, 20 May 2021 Dixon, the top operative at the state party, did not dispute the organization's past struggles, rife with mismanagement and often sidelined by national campaigns. — Dan Merica, CNN, 8 May 2021 After the leak became public, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh did not dispute the tape's authenticity, the Associated Press reported. — Fox News, 27 Apr. 2021 Nessel's investigation did not dispute that finding. — Joe Guillen, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2021 The agency did not dispute any details of the exchange. — STAT, 14 Apr. 2021 The Transportation Department, which houses the FAA, and NASA did not dispute that they were compromised. — Author: Ellen Nakashima, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Feb. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The legal divide over voting and elections begins with a basic dispute over how to read the Constitution and American history. — Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2021 Authorities said the shooting stemmed from a dispute over a debt. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 2 June 2021 After a dispute over possible violations of the settlement, Musk and the SEC clarified in 2019 that Tesla needs to approve any tweets about the company’s finances or other information considered material to investors. — Joe Walsh, Forbes, 2 June 2021 Teller's wife, Keleigh Speller Teller, posted about the incident on her Instagram stories on Friday night, following a TMZ report that Teller had been assaulted in a dispute over money. — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 31 May 2021 Residents there are now attempting to form their own city, St. George, amid a dispute over school funding. — Washington Post, 31 May 2021 The case, American Samoa v. National Marine Fisheries Service, centers on a dispute over where certain vessels can fish in the U.S. waters off American Samoa. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, 24 May 2021 Police responded to a resident dispute over a property line at 4:31 p.m. May 22. — Brian Lisik, cleveland, 24 May 2021 Oliva, now 76, a Vietnam War veteran and longtime VA patient, underwent two surgeries to repair injuries sustained after officers forcefully arrested him at a security screening checkpoint following a dispute over his ID. — Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 22 May 2021

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.

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Last Updated

7 Jun 2021

Cite this Entry

“Dispute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispute. Accessed 18 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for dispute

dispute

verb

English 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

verb

dis·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

noun

Kids Definition of dispute (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : debate entry 1 sense 3 It is a fact beyond dispute.

2 : quarrel entry 1 sense 1

dispute

verb

dis·pute | \ di-ˈspyüt

disputed; disputing

Legal Definition of dispute

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

dispute

noun

Legal 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)