contention
kuhn-TEN-shun
/kənˈten.ʃən/
Heated disagreement; or an assertion maintained in an argument.
Can mean the act of fighting or the specific point being argued.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'contendere,' meaning to stretch out or strive. Imagine two people pulling on the same rope; the 'tension' is the contention.
Word relationships
- assertion: An assertion is just a claim; a contention is a claim made within a conflict.
- concession: A concession is giving up a point; a contention is fighting for one.
Commonly confused with
- contentment: Contentment is happiness/satisfaction; contention is fighting/disagreement.
Word family
- contentious (adjective): Likely to cause an argument.
- contend (verb): To struggle or assert.
Collocations
- bone of contention
- point of contention
- area of contention
Idioms & expressions
- bone of contention
Example sentences
- "It is our contention that the defendant was not present at the scene." A legal argument.
- "The issue of funding has been a source of contention for years." Describing a bitter rivalry.
Memory hook
Contention is like a 'tension' contest. Stretching against each other.
When not to use
Too heavy for a simple misunderstanding.
Fun facts
- The phrase 'bone of contention' refers to two dogs fighting over a single bone that neither will give up.
Related words
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