dispute

verb

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,

ˈdis-ˌpyüt

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 ,

ˈdis-pyə- \ adjective

disputably \ -blē

\ 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

In October, the hanging death of Dayne Jones, the son of a prominent Ferguson, Missouri, activist, fueled accusations that the young man was lynched, though local police have disputed that characterization of the crime. — P.r. Lockhart, Vox, "By passing the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act this week, the Senate acknowledged its role in decades of racial terrorism.," 21 Dec. 2018 One fact not disputed among researchers: The farmers and foragers eventually shared their cultures. — Mark Barna, Discover Magazine, "When Farmers and Foragers First Met," 24 Oct. 2018 Of course family is everything, and no one can possibly dispute that. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "'Good Morning America' Star Ginger Zee Defends Her Choice to Head to Hurricane Storm Zone," 11 Sep. 2018 Yet few would dispute Detroit’s on better footing today. — Carol Cain, Detroit Free Press, "Sue Snyder: What it's like to be Michigan's first lady," 23 June 2018 At the end of the game, no one can dispute the number of touchdowns, home runs, or points on the scoreboard. — Brendan Tapley, Woman's Day, "10 Things Men Wish Women Knew About the Way They Think," 6 Nov. 2018 Despite a mountain of evidence and bad movie cameos to dispute this, Kelley insisted that professional athletes could in fact make good actors. — Andrew Keh, New York Times, "Neymar and the Art of the Dive," 5 July 2018 But beyond that, there are loads of college programs in this state that take baseball seriously and invest in it, and the results are difficult to dispute. — Nicholas Talbot, San Antonio Express-News, "Writers’ Roundtable: Who should the Spurs target in the NBA Draft?," 16 June 2018 And once that narrative sets in, even the North Koreans will struggle to dispute it. — Chris Cillizza, CNN, "Donald Trump's fake-it-until-you-make-it strategy on North Korea," 13 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The adversaries in the shareholder dispute include U.S. venture capitalist Paul Tierney, a former Peace Corps volunteer and former owner of D.C. United soccer team. — Gabriele Steinhauser, WSJ, "Virtual-Cash Treasure in Zimbabwe Sparks Fight Over Billions," 2 Jan. 2019 That second paragraph showed up in a lot of screenshots Wednesday evening on media Twitter, even if Kosinski’s zinger didn’t really scan (what is Facebook’s $12 bag of peanuts, exactly?) and the second sentence isn’t even in dispute. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "Why we can’t stop debating whether Facebook sells data," 14 Dec. 2018 The box in dispute is part of the Little Free Library movement started in 2009 by a Wisconsin man who built a book-sharing nook shaped like a one-room schoolhouse to honor his mother, a teacher. — Stephen Hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Oviedo HOA board opposed to Little Free Library resigns after outcry," 13 July 2018 Most of the events of July 9, 2016, are not in dispute. — Tom Jackman, chicagotribune.com, "In police sexual misconduct case, Michigan woman sues officer she accused of assault," 13 July 2018 All of the tariffs already imposed or threatened in the U.S.-China dispute would mean 700,000 fewer U.S. jobs, Zandi estimated. — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, "Trade wars are damaging, so why is Trump fighting one with China?," 13 July 2018 Most of the events of July 9, 2016, are not in dispute. — Tom Jackman, Washington Post, "In police sexual misconduct case, Michigan woman sues officer she accused of assault," 13 July 2018 From that point on, the facts about the evening are in dispute. — Michael Mccann, SI.com, "Could Gareon Conley Legally Prove That Rape Allegation Caused Draft Slide, Financial Harm?," 12 July 2018 The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has drawn in Wynn Resorts as a third-party defendant in a dispute with FBT Everett Realty LLC, the previous owner of 30-plus acres that Wynn acquired in Everett to build its gaming resort now under construction. — Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, "Gaming Commission drags Wynn Resorts into legal dispute with former Everett property owners," 12 July 2018

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

16 Jan 2019

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The first known use of dispute was in the 13th century

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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)

: 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)