issue

1 of 2

noun

is·​sue ˈi-(ˌ)shü How to pronounce issue (audio)
 chiefly Southern  ˈi-shə,
 chiefly British  ˈis-(ˌ)yü
plural issues
1
a(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
2
a
: 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
7
a
: something coming forth from a specified source
issues of a disordered imagination
b
obsolete : deed
8
a
: 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 issueT. B. Macaulay
9
issues plural : proceeds from a source of revenue (such as an estate)
issueless adjective

issue

2 of 2

verb

issued; issuing

transitive verb

1
a
: 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
2
: to cause to come forth : discharge, emit

intransitive verb

1
a
: 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
6
archaic : to descend from a specified parent or ancestor
issuer noun
Phrases
at issue
1
or less commonly in issue : under discussion or in dispute
2
: in a state of controversy : in disagreement
Choose the Right Synonym for issue

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
At issue is whether Texas and other red states may strictly enforce laws against coming into the country illegally. David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Unfortunately, discussing how these issues might be addressed never comes up. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for issue 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'issue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, exit, proceeds, from Anglo-French, from issir to come out, go out, from Latin exire to go out, from ex- + ire to go; akin to Goth iddja he went, Greek ienai to go, Sanskrit eti he goes

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 9

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of issue was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near issue

Cite this Entry

“Issue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/issue. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

issue

1 of 2 noun
is·​sue ˈish-ü How to pronounce issue (audio)
1
: the action of going, coming, or flowing out
2
: a means or place of going out : exit, outlet
3
4
: final outcome : result
5
: a point of debate or controversy
6
: a giving off (as of blood) from the body
7
: something issued or issuing
especially : the copies of a publication published at one time

issue

2 of 2 verb
issued; issuing
1
: to go, come, or flow out : emerge
water issuing from a pipe
2
a
: to cause to come forth
b
: to distribute officially
c
: to send out for sale or circulation : publish
3
: to come as an effect : result
issuer noun
Etymology

Verb

Middle English issuen "to go out, flow out," derived from early French issir "to come or go out," from Latin exire "to go out," from ex- "out of, from" and ire "to go" — related to exit, itinerary, transit

Medical Definition

issue

noun
is·​sue
ˈish-(ˌ)ü, chiefly British ˈis-(ˌ)yü
1
2
a
: 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 physiciansLuke 8:43 (Authorized Version)
b
: an incision made to produce such a discharge

Legal Definition

issue

1 of 2 noun
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
3
a
: 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 lawUnited 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
4
a
: 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

issue

2 of 2 verb
is·​sue
ˈi-shü
issued; issuing

intransitive verb

1
: accrue
profits issuing from the sale of the stock
2
: to become available or be put forth by authority
waited for the search warrant to issue

transitive verb

: to put forth or distribute usually officially
issue a subpoena
issue bonds
issue credit
issuer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on issue

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