noun
1Heated disagreement.
‘the captured territory was one of the main areas of contention between the two countries’
- ‘Sea power's dominance, however, has been a point of contention among military historians.’
- ‘Another area of much contention is the desired level of channel control sought by the manufacturer.’
- ‘The basis for this contention among British doctors seems even more tenuous.’
- ‘A common area of contention is the time the new home will be complete.’
- ‘So the only area of contention is the area of where we are investigating behaviour that may be unlawful.’
- ‘One area of contention is whether a confession made by a co-defendant may be tendered by a defendant.’
- ‘But it's not hard to see why this funding bottom line is the main point of contention here.’
- ‘One of the main points of contention between the two sides was shift scheduling.’
- ‘This diversity is one of the main points of contention between astrologers themselves.’
- ‘One of the main points of contention is the executive compensation issue.’
- ‘The defendant disputes the claimant's contention that they failed in their duty to notify and consult.’
- ‘The appellants dispute this contention by reference to the principle as formulated by them.’
- ‘It plainly indicates that a controversy or contention has arisen between the parties.’
- ‘Ownership has long been a source of contention in the Irish newspaper industry.’
- ‘It has been the origin of a lot of discord and a lot of contention over consents.’
- ‘Last night he had put himself in medal contention in the decathlon.’
- ‘An e-voting system like this is an invitation for fraud, and sure to be a point of contention when the votes are counted.’
- ‘Roth says he was immediately drawn to the novel, which had a history of contention all its own.’
- ‘The pound in a pensioner's pocket or purse has become the latest point of contention for politicians.’
- ‘The absence of independent testing of milk has been a source of contention for years.’
disagreement, dispute, disputation, argument, variance
View synonyms2An assertion, especially one maintained in argument.
‘statistics bear out his contention that many runners are undertrained for this event’
- ‘I am not saying you do not have arguments against the contentions the applicant would wish to make.’
- ‘But to this point, the administration has offered few direct answers to the particular contentions of the critics.’
- ‘We say that if it is necessary, the second respondent in its argument has raised a contention.’
- ‘This event also paints a picture somewhat at odds with the respondent's contentions that the applicant had no significant input into Xavier's life.’
- ‘There are many, many arguments to consider and contentions to examine.’
- ‘Hence the contentions and the arguments of the plaintiff are weak and not legitimate.’
- ‘In view of their Lordships, however, such a contention is not maintainable.’
- ‘These contentions were borne out by my direct observation of the police handling of numerous disputes.’
- ‘There are, almost daily, reporters' observations, columnists' opinions and e-mail complaints that support my contentions.’
- ‘The statement and evidence of the defendant contains strong specific contentions that the prosecution is politically motivated.’
- ‘In our view there are two conclusive answers to these contentions.’
- ‘Their contentions are theoretical and ideological, not based on reality.’
- ‘It is my contention that she didn't really betray anyone, and that the real agents of betrayal in all of this are the media.’
- ‘Indeed, my contention is that everyone in his movies is completely real.’
- ‘It is my contention that the difference between a monarchy and a republic would be symbolic only.’
- ‘On teen pregnancy I have to say that official statistics do not support her contention.’
- ‘It is my contention that the two groups simply have radically different registers and types of interaction.’
- ‘It is not my contention that information must needs run on a parallel track to entertainment.’
- ‘I agree with her contention that the debate was a good thing for the party, as argued below.’
- ‘He repeated his earlier contention that the country has enough food to feed its people.’
Phrases
out of contention
Not having a good chance of success in a contest.
‘she has finally admitted that the team is out of contention’
- ‘he is out of contention for the starting rotation’
in contention
Having a good chance of success in a contest.
‘three penalties kept the team firmly in contention’
- ‘he was in contention for the batting title in September’
- ‘I have a lot more confidence that, if I just play my game, I'll have a chance to be in contention on the weekend.’
- ‘It was nice to get back there again and be in contention with a chance to win coming up the back nine on Sunday.’
- ‘So players who did not turn up for training with the County team ruled themselves out of contention.’
- ‘We were one of the smallest teams there that was in contention and we ended up fourth.’
- ‘The club has been running for three years and a number of the teams are now in contention for league titles.’
- ‘I wanted to test out trying to stay in contention for the whole race, rather than just going for individual stage wins.’
- ‘Will he get enough votes outside the town to keep him in the race and in contention for a seat?’
- ‘His team is out of contention, with virtually no hope of playing in the World Series.’
- ‘Both sides are very much in contention for a place in the semi-finals of the competition.’
- ‘If that nine holes had been successful and he'd got to remain in contention, he might well have had a good season.’
- ‘The true aim is to get back in contention, and for that to deliver a sense of contentment that is long overdue.’
- ‘You know, I'm sure this year we'll have the equipment to be in contention of winning races.’
- ‘The blunder took him out of contention for the presidential nomination.’
- ‘A win here would be very useful and get us back into contention in the league.’
- ‘He's got to get his head down and fight his way back into contention.’
- ‘Serious questions remain as to the readiness, willingness and fitness to lead of those in main contention.’
- ‘He feels clearing that height at the Olympics is good enough to make the final and put him in medal contention.’
- ‘Players darted into contention and equally swiftly darted out again, but a precious few stayed with it until the end.’
- ‘If he could come in around 6,000 he will be in serious contention for the last seat.’
- ‘The day when those who have made the cut try to haul themselves into contention for the big prizes.’
Origin
Late Middle English from Latin contentio(n-), from contendere ‘strive with’ (see contend).