issue

noun

is·​sue ˈi-(ˌ)shü 

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.

Water purity is a public health issue.

b

: a matter that is in dispute between two or more parties

The President's speech addressed a number of important issues.

"… 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/current issue

The library has a large collection of back issues. [=magazines, newspapers, etc., published before the current issue]

b

: the act of publishing or officially giving out or making available

a government-issue uniform

the next issue of commemorative stamps

issue of supplies by the quartermaster

Several senators are calling for the issue [=issuance] of new guidelines.

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

the northern issue of the plaza

a dark labyrinth that had no issue

a river whose source and issue were unknown

6

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

the issue of water from a broken pipe

a constant entrance and issue of visitors

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 issue.

—T. B. Macaulay

9

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

issueless

ˈi-shü-ləs 

adjective

see also:

at issue

Synonyms of issue

• outcome
• result
• resultant
• consequence
• product
• effect

Examples of issue in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

However, parents should be aware that issues related to your kids are unpredictable. —Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 May 2026

In a matter of months, unmanned vehicles have gone from rare frontline curiosities to standard issue. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 30 May 2026

For a movement built partly around concern over pesticides and environmental toxins, that was not a side issue. —Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026

People who like a show with a high concept voicey narrator that’s not afraid to crawl up its own butt will have no issue with it. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 9

Phrases Containing issue

• at issue
• force the issue
• in issue
• standard-issue
• take issue
• wedge issue
• without issue

Rhymes for issue

• reissue

Kids Definition

issue

1 of 2 noun

is·​sue ˈish-ü 

1

: the action of going, coming, or flowing out

2

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

3

: offspring, progeny

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

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

: progeny

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 physicians

—Luke 8:43 (Authorized Version)

b

: an incision made to produce such a discharge

Legal Definition

issue

1 of 2 noun

is·​sue ˈi-ˌshü, -ˌsyü 

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 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

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