altercation
al-ter-KAY-shun
/ˌɔːltərˈkeɪʃən/
A noisy, public argument or confrontation.
This is a formal term often used by police or in news reports. It implies a heated exchange that might lead to physical violence or a breach of the peace.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'alter' (other), it literally means to have a go at 'the other' person. It suggests a back-and-forth clash between two opposing sides.
Word relationships
- row: Altercation is the formal, clinical term for what a 'row' describes colloquially.
- concord: Agreement or harmony between people.
Commonly confused with
- fracas: An altercation is usually between two people; a fracas involves a larger group or a general uproar.
Word family
- altercate (verb): To dispute or argue noisily (rarely used).
Collocations
- verbal altercation
- physical altercation
- heated altercation
Example sentences
- "The suspect was involved in a verbal altercation with the store manager before fleeing the scene." A police report description.
Memory hook
When you have an altercation, you are dealing with an 'alter' (other) person's 'cation' (action). Altercation: Angry with the 'alter' (other).
When not to use
Too formal for a minor disagreement at home; use 'spat' or 'bicker' instead.
Fun facts
- The word has been used in English since the 14th century to describe legal disputes.
Explore more words
clash, dispute, confrontation, squabble, vociferate, vociferous
Also appears in
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