issue

noun

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is·sue | \ ˈi-(ˌ)shü

, chiefly Southern ˈi-shə, chiefly British ˈis-(ˌ)yü \

plural issues

Definition of issue

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(1) : a vital or unsettled matter economic issues

(2) : concern, problem I have issues with his behavior

b : a matter that is in dispute between two or more parties "… He insists that this was an issue over health care policy, not over the former vice president's age or agility. …"— Ed O'Keefe They misquoted me, but I didn't want to make an issue of it. — see also take issue

c : the point at which an unsettled matter is ready for a decision brought the matter to an issue

2a : the thing or the whole quantity of things given out at one time read the latest issue

b : the act of publishing or officially giving out or making available the next issue of commemorative stamps issue of supplies by the quartermaster

3 : offspring, progeny died without issue

4 : a discharge (as of blood) from the body

5 : a means or place of going out : exit, outlet

6 : the action of going, coming, or flowing out : egress, emergence

7a : something coming forth from a specified source issues of a disordered imagination

b obsolete : deed

8a : a final outcome that usually constitutes a solution (as of a problem) or resolution (as of a difficulty)

b obsolete : a final conclusion or decision about something arrived at after consideration

c archaic : termination, end hope that his enterprise would have a prosperous issue— T. B. Macaulay

9 issues plural : proceeds from a source of revenue (such as an estate)

at issue

1 or less commonly in issue : under discussion or in dispute

2 : in a state of controversy : in disagreement

issue

verb

issued; issuing

Definition of issue (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to put forth or distribute usually officially government issued a new airmail stamp issue orders

b : to send out for sale or circulation : publish

c British : provide sense 1a, supply

2 : to cause to come forth : discharge, emit

intransitive verb

1a : to go, come, or flow out

b : to come forth : emerge

2 : accrue profits issuing from the sale of the stock

3 : to be a consequence or final outcome : emanate, result

4 : to appear or become available through being officially put forth or distributed

5 : eventuate, terminate

6 archaic : to descend from a specified parent or ancestor

Other Words from issue Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about issue

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Choose the Right Synonym for issue

Verb

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence. spring implies rapid or sudden emerging. an idea that springs to mind arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent. new questions have arisen slowly rose to prominence originate implies a definite source or starting point. the fire originated in the basement derive implies a prior existence in another form. the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception. words flowed easily from her pen issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet. blood issued from the cut emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source. reports emanating from the capital proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause. advice that proceeds from the best of intentions stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development. industries stemming from space research

Examples of issue in a Sentence

Noun She is concerned with a variety of social issues. Water purity is a public health issue. The President's speech addressed a number of important issues. campaign issues like education and defense The issue is poverty, not race: to talk about race is simply to confuse the issue. The case involves some complicated legal issues. He should stop dodging the issue and make a decision now. There's an interesting article on page 12 of this issue. the most recent issue of the magazine Verb Each employee will be issued an identification card. The Post Office will issue a new first-class stamp. The company plans to raise money by issuing more stock. The bank will be issuing a new credit card. the bank's newly issued credit card The king issued a decree forbidding all protests. A severe storm warning has been issued. The police have issued a warrant for her arrest. A steady flow of lava issued from a crack in the rock.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Ravi was regularly seen at the protests and is known for being increasingly vocal about the issue and her negative view of Modi’s environmental policies. — NBC News, "Disha Ravi: Indian climate activist becomes symbol of crackdown on dissent," 20 Feb. 2021 Many commenters took issue with the statement, especially that Del Rey musician seemingly associated rappers with people of color. — Tyler Aquilina, EW.com, "How to join Lana Del Rey's TikTok cult," 19 Feb. 2021 Cunningham took issue with Rivera’s charge of a lack of diversity. — Steve Sadin, chicagotribune.com, "Waukegan mayoral candidates have similar goals, different approaches for luring businesses to city," 19 Feb. 2021 Conservatives, including former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, quickly took issue with Biden’s comment. — Andrew Mark Miller, Washington Examiner, "Biden says during CNN town hall 'we didn't have' a coronavirus vaccine when he took office," 17 Feb. 2021 Five essays stoutly defended Professor Ewell; most of the remaining 10 essays took strong issue. — New York Times, "Obscure Musicology Journal Sparks Battles Over Race and Free Speech," 14 Feb. 2021 Houston coach Stephen Silas took issue with his team's defense, citing the Pelicans' 60 points in the paint and 18 second-chance points. — Brett Martel, Chron, "Rockets routed by Josh Hart, Pelicans," 10 Feb. 2021 In addition to the council’s persistent focus on Israel, the Trump administration took issue with the body’s membership, which currently includes China, Cuba, Eritrea, Russia and Venezuela, all of which have been accused of human rights abuses. — Matthew Lee, BostonGlobe.com, "US moves to rejoin UN rights council, reversing Trump anew," 8 Feb. 2021 The left-leaning Economic Policy Institute took issue with the CBO's projection of significant job loss, saying its own analysis has found the impact on employment to be negligible. — CBS News, "$15 minimum wage would increase joblessness but reduce poverty, CBO says," 8 Feb. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Kim claims that Cuomo asked him to issue a statement defending DeRosa. — Adam Brewster, CBS News, "After initial praise, Governors Cuomo and Newsom face political heat over COVID-19 response," 21 Feb. 2021 At the time of publication, Giuliani has yes to issue a statement in response to Dominion’s lawsuit. — Danielle Campoamor, refinery29.com, "Giuliani Claimed Dominion Voting Systems Was Run By “Communists.” Now, They’re Suing Him For $1 Billion," 25 Jan. 2021 In the aftermath of the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose not to issue a public statement addressing what had transpired. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Prince Harry Decries the Siege on the Capitol: "A Literal Attack on Democracy"," 22 Jan. 2021 As the senior military adviser to the president, the chairman has no command authority, no power to issue orders to any members of the armed services. — Mackubin Owens, Washington Examiner, "Stop dragging the military into election fights," 31 Dec. 2020 The Ohio House won’t hold any more voting sessions this year, sources said, unless the Senate votes to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of Senate Bill 311, which would strip the governor of his power to issue statewide coronavirus orders. — cleveland, "Ohio lawmakers fail to address tainted House Bill 6: Capitol Letter," 23 Dec. 2020 The Federal Reserve still has the power to issue zero-interest loans to all cities and counties, but the pressure has not yet been put on the Fed to do so. — Nick Martin, The New Republic, "Let Them Eat $600," 22 Dec. 2020 The Courier-Journal in Louisville reported that Beshear's spokesperson, Crystal Staley, referred to a previous Kentucky Supreme Court decision, which unanimously upheld Beshear's power to issue executive orders during the pandemic. — Sam Dorman, Fox News, "Justice Gorsuch says Kentucky governor should face judicial review in dissent on religious schools case," 18 Dec. 2020 The office would also have the power to issue subpoenas, administer oaths and compel testimony in conducting investigations. — Kala Kachmar, The Courier-Journal, "LMPD civilian review board ordinance heads to council with hefty training requirements," 18 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'issue.' 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

25 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Issue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/issue. Accessed 1 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for issue

issue

noun

English Language Learners Definition of issue

(Entry 1 of 2)

: something that people are talking about, thinking about, etc. : an important subject or topic

: the version of a newspaper, magazine, etc., that is published at a particular time

: the act of officially making something available or giving something to people to be used : the act of issuing something

issue

verb

English Language Learners Definition of issue (Entry 2 of 2)

: to give (something) to someone in an official way : to give or supply (something) to (someone)

: to make (something) available to be sold or used

: to announce (something) in a public and official way

See the full definition for issue in the English Language Learners Dictionary

issue

noun

is·sue | \ ˈi-shü

Kids Definition of issue

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : something that is discussed or disputed Let's not argue about this issue.

2 : the version of a newspaper or magazine that is published at a particular time

3 : the action of going, coming, or flowing out That is the river's place of issue.

4 : offspring, progeny

5 : a giving off (as of blood) from the body

6 : the act of bringing out, offering, or making available The post office announced the issue of new stamps.

issue

verb

issued; issuing

Kids Definition of issue (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to go, come, or flow out Smoke issued from the chimney.

2 : to distribute officially Police are issuing tickets.

3 : to announce officially A storm warning has been issued.

4 : to send out for sale or circulation

issue

noun

is·sue | \ ˈish-(ˌ)ü, chiefly British ˈis-(ˌ)yü \

Medical Definition of issue

1 : progeny

2a : a discharge (as of blood) from the body that is caused by disease or other physical disorder or that is produced artificially a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians — Luke 8:43 (Authorized Version)

b : an incision made to produce such a discharge

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issue

noun

is·sue | \ ˈi-ˌshü, -ˌsyü

Legal Definition of issue

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 plural : proceeds from a source of revenue (as an estate) rents, issues, and profits

2 : one or more lineal descendants died without issue — compare child, heir

3a : a vital question or problem cited a national security issue raised an issue of public safety

b : a matter of dispute between two or more parties specifically : a single material point of fact or law in litigation that is affirmed by one side and denied by the other and that is a subject of the final determination (as by jury) of the proceedings

— genuine issue

: an issue of fact that requires adjudication by trial rather than summary judgment because sufficient evidence exists to support a verdict for the party opposing the motion for summary judgment

Note: The burden is on the party moving for summary judgment to show that no genuine issue is in dispute.

— issue of fact

: a dispute about a material fact that is raised by pleadings and that must be resolved by a decision under the law in order to become res judicata

— issue of law

: a question specifically regarding the application of law to a case instructed the jury on various issues of law — United States v. Levine, 41 F.3d 607 (1994)

c : the point at which a legal matter is ready for determination (as by trial) filed pleadings and brought the case to issue

4a : the offering or selling of a group of securities by a corporation or government a new bond issue

b : the securities offered or sold in such a group sold the entire issue

at issue also in issue

: under discussion or in dispute

issue

verb

is·sue | \ ˈi-shü \

issued; issuing

Legal Definition of issue (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : accrue profits issuing from the sale of the stock