dispute
dih-SPYOOT
/dɪˈspjuːt/
A disagreement, argument, or debate, especially one that is formal or prolonged.
Often implies a legal or official context; it suggests that the facts or rights are being questioned.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'disputare,' meaning to estimate or discuss. Originally, it meant to 'think apart' or weigh different sides of an argument.
Word relationships
- controversy: A controversy is a public dispute; a dispute can be private or legal.
- agreement: Agreement is the resolution or absence of a dispute.
Commonly confused with
- debate: A debate is often an organized discussion; a dispute is a conflict over who is right or who owns what.
Word family
- disputable (adjective): Open to argument.
- disputant (noun): A person involved in a dispute.
Collocations
- border dispute
- legal dispute
- beyond dispute
- in dispute
Idioms & expressions
- in dispute
Example sentences
- "The industrial dispute led to a three-week strike at the factory." Labor relations.
- "Historians continue to dispute the exact date of the city's founding." Academic skepticism.
Memory hook
Dispute = 'Dis' (not) + 'Pute' (pure/clear). The facts are not clear, so we argue. Thinking in different directions.
When not to use
Too formal for a casual tiff between friends.
Fun facts
- In medieval universities, a 'disputation' was a formal method of learning where students had to argue for and against a thesis.
Related words
Explore more words
wrangle, contention, altercation, adjudicate, feud, adversary
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