Argument — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈär-gyə-mənt/ ar·gu·ment

Meaning & Definition of Argument

Argument (noun)

  1. the act or process of arguing, reasoning, or discussing, argumentation
  2. a coherent series of reasons, statements, or facts intended to support or establish a point of view
  3. an angry quarrel or disagreement

Argument (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions

    "the couple's arguments were often loud enough to be heard all over the neighborhood"

    similar: altercation, argle-bargle (chiefly British), argy-bargy (chiefly British), battle royal, bicker, brawl, contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, falling-out, fight, hassle, imbroglio, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, rhubarb, row, scrap, set-to, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle
    related: clash, run-in, skirmish, tangle, tussle, logomachy, feud, vendetta, attack, contention, dissension, debate, difference, disputation, fuss, objection, protest, protestation, affray (chiefly British), fisticuffs, fracas, fray, free-for-all, melee, catfight

  2. a statement given to explain a belief or act

    "gave a solid argument for the redeeming value of the shockingly violent movie"

    similar: account, accounting, case, explanation, rationale, reason
    related: alibi, apologia, apology, defense, excuse, justification, vindication, appeal, plea, guise, pretense, pretext, rationalization

  3. an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue

    "the president of the Senate has allotted a week for the argument of the treaty"

    similar: argumentation, argy-bargy (chiefly British), back-and-forth, colloquy, confab, confabulation, conference, consult, consultation, council, counsel, debate, deliberation, dialogue, discussion, give-and-take, palaver, parley, talk
    related: bull session, chat room, forum, meeting, roundtable, seminar, skull session, symposium, talkathon, chat, conversation, rap, words, discourse, disquisition, bargaining, consultancy, negotiation, pourparler

  4. an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate

    "it's my argument that we have too many problems here on earth to concern ourselves with manned trips to Mars"

    similar: assertion, contention, thesis
    related: conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, surmise, theory, proposal, proposition, assumption, presupposition, supposition, position, stand, case, explanation, rationale, reason

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Argument

The most common words with a similar meaning to Argument:

Chiefly British: argle-bargle, argy-bargy
altercation, battle royal, bicker, brawl, contretemps, controversy, cross fire, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, falling-out, fight, hassle, imbroglio, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, rhubarb, row, scrap, set-to, spat, squabble, tiff, wrangle, account, accounting, case, explanation, rationale, reason, argumentation, back-and-forth, colloquy, confab, confabulation, conference, consult, consultation, council

Related Words for Argument

clash, run-in, skirmish, tangle, tussle, logomachy, feud, vendetta, attack, dissension, difference, disputation, fuss, objection, protest, protestation, affray, fisticuffs, fracas, fray, free-for-all, melee, catfight, alibi, apologia, apology, defense, excuse, justification, vindication

Origin & Etymology of Argument

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin argūmentum, from arguere "to show, demonstrate" + -mentum -ment argue

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Argument

Words & Phrases Containing Argument

ontological argument, counterargument

Frequently Asked Questions about Argument

What does "Argument" mean?

"Argument" means the act or process of arguing, reasoning, or discussing, argumentation. As a noun, it is defined as: the act or process of arguing, reasoning, or discussing, argumentation. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Argument"?

Other words for "Argument" include altercation, argle-bargle, argy-bargy, battle royal, bicker, brawl, contretemps and controversy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Argument" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Argument"?

There are 123 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Argument". Common alternatives include altercation, argle-bargle, argy-bargy, battle royal, bicker, brawl, contretemps, controversy, cross fire and disagreement.

How do you use "Argument" in a sentence?

Examples of "Argument" in a sentence: "the couple's arguments were often loud enough to be heard all over the neighborhood"; "gave a solid argument for the redeeming value of the shockingly violent movie"; "the president of the Senate has allotted a week for the argument of the treaty".

Is "Argument" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Argument" is a noun.

Is "Argument" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Argument" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Argument"?

"Argument" is pronounced /ˈär-gyə-mənt/ and divided into syllables as ar·gu·ment.

What is the origin of the word "Argument"?

"Argument" comes from Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin argūmentum, from arguere "to show, demonstrate" + -mentum -ment argue. First known use: 14th century.