contention

C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /kənˈtɛnʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #24093

Meanings

1

noun
An opinion or point that you state firmly in an argument.

It is my contention that lotteries are simply a tax on the poor.
2

noun
Angry disagreement or competition between people.

The will became a source of bitter contention within the family.
3

noun
A serious chance of winning, especially in sport.

A late goal put the team back in contention for the title.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an opinion or point that... claim argument

2 noun · angry disagreement or... strife dispute

3 noun · a serious chance of... competition

More gainstrifegainstrivingwrangling

Word family

Forms contentions

Derived forms contentionalnoncontention

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

fierce contention
intense competition between people or groups seeking the same result

Adjective + noun

Idioms (1)

See all

a bone of contention
a subject that causes disagreement or argument between people

Simplified etymology

Contention, recorded from late Middle English, comes from Latin contendere, meaning “strive with.”

Etymology

From Middle English contencion, borrowed from Old French contencion, from Latin contentio, contentionem, from contendō (past participle contentus); equivalent to contend + -tion (similar formation to attention).

contencion Middle English contentio Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# contention

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /kənˈtɛnʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 24093

## Meanings
1. An opinion or point that you state firmly in an argument.
2. Angry disagreement or competition between people.
3. A serious chance of winning, especially in sport.

## Examples
- It is my contention that lotteries are simply a tax on the poor.
- The will became a source of bitter contention within the family.
- A late goal put the team back in contention for the title.

## Synonyms
- gainstrife
- gainstriving
- wrangling

## Derived Forms
- contentional
- noncontention

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: contencion
- Root: contentio

## Etymology
From Middle English contencion, borrowed from Old French contencion, from Latin contentio, contentionem, from contendō (past participle contentus); equivalent to contend + -tion (similar formation to attention).

## AI Etymology
Contention comes from Middle English contencion, borrowed from Old French contencion, from Latin contentio, contentionem, from contendō (past participle contentus); equivalent to contend + -tion (similar formation to attention). The historical chain includes contencion (Middle English), contencion (Old French), and contentio (Latin). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as contentional and noncontention. In present use it covers an opinion or point that you state firmly in an argument, angry disagreement or competition between people, and a serious chance of winning, especially in sport.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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