Contention — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /kən-ˈten(t)-shən/ con·ten·tion

Meaning & Definition of Contention

Contention (noun)

  1. a point advanced or maintained in a debate or argument
  2. an act or instance of contending
  3. rivalry, competition

Contention (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "my contention is that today's lower batting averages are the result of better pitching"

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

  2. an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another

    "several actresses seem to be in heated contention for the title of worst dressed"

    similar: ball game, battle, combat, competition, conflict, confrontation, contest, dogfight, duel, face-off, grapple, match, rivalry, strife, struggle, sweepstakes, tug-of-war, war, warfare
    related: horse race, nail-biter, showdown, clash, collision, discord, friction, argument, controversy, debate, disagreement, disputation, dispute, dissension, quarrel, row, wrangle
    near: concord, harmony, peace

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Contention

The most common words with a similar meaning to Contention:

argument, assertion, thesis, ball game, battle, combat, competition, conflict, confrontation, contest, dogfight, duel, face-off, grapple, match, rivalry, strife, struggle, sweepstakes, tug-of-war, war, warfare

Related Words for Contention

conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, surmise, theory, proposal, proposition, assumption, presupposition, supposition, position, stand, case, explanation, rationale, reason, horse race, nail-biter, showdown, clash, collision, discord, friction, controversy, debate, disagreement, disputation, dispute

Near Antonyms of Contention

concord, harmony, peace

Origin & Etymology of Contention

Middle English contencioun "dissension, dispute," borrowed from Anglo-French cuntençun, contencion, borrowed from Latin contentiōn-, contentiō "exertion, competition, conflict," from conten-, variant stem of contendere "to strain, make an effort, strive, compete" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action contend

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Contention

Words & Phrases Containing Contention

in contention, in contention for, out of contention for, point of contention

Frequently Asked Questions about Contention

What does "Contention" mean?

"Contention" means a point advanced or maintained in a debate or argument. As a noun, it is defined as: a point advanced or maintained in a debate or argument. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Contention"?

Other words for "Contention" include argument, assertion, thesis, ball game, battle, combat, competition and conflict. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Contention" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Contention"?

There are 56 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Contention". Common alternatives include argument, assertion, thesis, ball game, battle, combat, competition, conflict, confrontation and contest.

How do you use "Contention" in a sentence?

Examples of "Contention" in a sentence: "my contention is that today's lower batting averages are the result of better pitching"; "several actresses seem to be in heated contention for the title of worst dressed".

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

"Contention" is a noun.

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

As a C2-level word, "Contention" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Contention"?

"Contention" is pronounced /kən-ˈten(t)-shən/ and divided into syllables as con·ten·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Contention"?

"Contention" comes from Middle English contencioun "dissension, dispute," borrowed from Anglo-French cuntençun, contencion, borrowed from Latin contentiōn-, contentiō "exertion, competition, conflict," from conten-, variant stem of contendere "to strain, make an effort, strive, compete" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action contend. First known use: 14th century.