contention

contention — noun

1. a state of strong disagreement between people or groups, often continuing for a

1.nounB2
Definition

a state of strong disagreement between people or groups, often continuing for a long time

Example

The location of the new hospital became a major point of contention among local residents.

collocation: point of contention

Lakan's decision to leave the board caused months of bitter contention within the organisation.

Common collocations
  • point of contention
  • source of contention
  • bone of contention
  • cause of contention
  • bitter contention
  • fierce contention
  • subject of contention
Synonyms
  • dispute

    more active, often refers to a specific argument rather than a general state of disagreement

  • conflict

    broader; can include physical fighting, not just verbal disagreement

  • friction

    milder; suggests ongoing irritation rather than open argument

  • discord

    more formal and literary; emphasises lack of harmony

Antonyms
  • agreement

    opposite end of the spectrum — harmonious understanding between parties

  • harmony

    suggests peaceful coexistence without disagreement

Grammar Patterns

be a/source/point of contention

contention about/over/between/among

Usage Note

Usually uncountable; the countable form 'contentions' is rare and mainly literary. Frequently paired with prepositions 'over', 'about', 'between', or 'among'.

Common Mistakes

There was a strong contention between the two teams about the result.
There was strong contention between the two teams about the result.
In the disagreement sense, contention is uncountable and does not take an article.

2. a specific opinion or statement that someone presents as true, particularly duri

2.nounB2
Definition

a specific opinion or statement that someone presents as true, particularly during an argument in which others hold a different view

Example

Élise's central contention is that the current education system fails to prepare students for real-world challenges.

pattern: [possessive] contention + that-clause

The professor supported his contention with data collected from over fifty countries.

collocation: support [someone's] contention

Common collocations
  • main contention
  • central contention
  • support a contention
  • challenge a contention
  • reject a contention
  • accept a contention
Synonyms
  • assertion

    very close in meaning; 'assertion' emphasises confidence, while 'contention' emphasises the argumentative context

  • claim

    broader and less formal; can be used outside arguments

  • thesis

    more formal and academic; usually the main idea of a written work

  • argument

    refers to the reasoning used to support a point, rather than the point itself

Grammar Patterns

[possessive] + contention + that-clause

it is [possessive] contention that...

support/challenge/reject + [possessive] contention

Usage Note

This sense is always countable and most commonly appears in formal or academic contexts. The that-clause after 'contention' states the content of the opinion. Common verbs paired with this sense: 'support', 'challenge', 'reject', 'accept', 'disprove'.

3. the state of having a realistic chance of winning or achieving something, especi

3.nounB2
Definition

the state of having a realistic chance of winning or achieving something, especially in a competition or contest — used almost exclusively in the prepositional phrases 'in contention' and 'out of contention'

Example

After six consecutive wins, Salma is still in contention for the national title.

pattern: in contention for + prize/position

A poor performance in the semi-final put the team out of contention for the championship.

pattern: out of contention for + prize/position

Common collocations
  • in contention
  • out of contention
  • in contention for
  • remain in contention
  • put out of contention
Synonyms
  • competition

    standard standalone noun; 'contention' in this sense is more restricted to fixed phrases

Grammar Patterns

in contention [for something]

out of contention [for something]

Usage Note

This sense exists only within the fixed phrases 'in contention' (having a chance) and 'out of contention' (no longer having a chance). It cannot be used freely like a regular noun — you cannot say 'the contention was strong' to mean competition. The preposition 'for' introduces the prize, title, or position being competed for.

Common Mistakes

The contention for the trophy was fierce.
The teams in contention for the trophy were playing fiercely.
'Contention' in the competition sense is not a standalone noun; it must appear in the phrases 'in contention' or 'out of contention'.
Idioms

bone of contention

idiom

a subject or issue that two or more people or groups keep arguing about over a long period

The ownership of the land has been a bone of contention between the two families for generations.

Working hours became the main bone of contention during the contract negotiations.

a bone of contention

idiom

A topic that makes people argue or disagree.

The new park design became a bone of contention among neighbors.

Why is the budget always a bone of contention in your meetings?

in contention (for something)

idiom

Having a possibility to win or achieve something.

Maya is still in contention for the lead role in the play.

Only two candidates remain in contention for the job.

out of contention (for something)

idiom

No longer having a chance to win or achieve something.

After losing three games, our team is out of contention.

Diego's injury put him out of contention for the race.

Word family

  • contend
    verbB2
  • contender
    nounB2
  • contentious
    adjectiveC1
  • contentiously
    adverbC1
  • contentiousness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words refer to something someone states as true, but they differ in context and emphasis. A 'contention' is a point put forward in a debate or disagreement — it implies that someone is likely to oppose it. An 'assertion' is stated confidently, often without evidence, so it carries a more forceful tone. A 'claim' is the broadest of the four: it can be used in everyday, legal, and academic settings for any statement of supposed fact. A 'thesis' is the most formal and structured, referring to the central argument of an academic paper or book-length work. An 'argument' is the reasoning or set of reasons used to support a conclusion, rather than the conclusion itself. For example: 'Her contention that the policy is flawed was met with opposition.' / 'He made an assertion without providing any data to back it up.'

assertion ↗claim ↗thesis ↗argument ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word entered English in the late Middle Ages from Old French 'contention', which came from Latin 'contentio' (a straining, struggle, or dispute). The Latin root 'contendere' means 'to stretch together, to strive after', from 'com-' (together) and 'tendere' (to stretch). The sense shifted from physical straining to verbal struggle, and later to the specific meaning of an opinion put forward in such a struggle.