issue
issue — verb
1. to make an official document, ticket, passport, or public statement available fo
to make an official document, ticket, passport, or public statement available for people to receive or use.
The government will issue new passports to all citizens who apply before December.
issue + [document] + to + [recipient]
Minho's company issues tickets for buses and trains throughout the country.
issue + [ticket] + for + [service]
Last week the principal issued a formal apology to the students' families.
Noor's visa was issued by the embassy just three days before her flight.
passive: be issued + by + [authority]
- issue a passport
- issue a visa
- issue a permit
- issue a license
- issue a warning
- issue a statement
- issue an apology
- issue a ticket
- issue an identification card
- publish
more specific to printed or digital content such as books, articles, and reports
- release
more general in tone; can apply to products, music, films, as well as documents
- distribute
focuses on the act of giving out or spreading, with less emphasis on official production
Grammar Patterns
issue + [document/permit/statement] + to + [recipient]
be issued + by + [authority]
Usage Note
Frequently used in official or administrative contexts. The direct object is typically a document, permit, ticket, passport, or formal statement. Often followed by 'to' to indicate the recipient, or used in the passive voice ('be issued by').
Common Mistakes
issue — noun
1. a question, topic, or situation that people discuss publicly, especially when it
a question, topic, or situation that people discuss publicly, especially when it involves different opinions and affects many people
The issue of rising housing costs has become a major concern for young families.
issue + of + noun phrase
At the meeting, residents raised several issues about the new school building.
collocation: raise an issue
Climate change remains a deeply controversial issue across the political spectrum.
Tara wrote a newspaper article that explored the issue of food waste in local supermarkets.
Yuki told me the committee discussed the budget issue for over two hours.
- raise an issue
- address an issue
- debate an issue
- the issue of
- a controversial issue
- a key issue
Grammar Patterns
issue + of + noun/gerund
issue + about + noun
Usage Note
Countable noun. Often used with the preposition 'of' to specify what topic is being referred to (e.g., 'the issue of climate change'). Subject is typically a societal or practical matter rather than a personal feeling.
Common Mistakes
2. the exact question or specific point that two sides disagree about and that need
the exact question or specific point that two sides disagree about and that needs a decision, especially in a legal or formal discussion
The point at issue is whether the company broke its contract with the workers.
fixed phrase: the point at issue
After hours of debate, the issue came down to a single question of safety standards.
Both lawyers agreed that the real issue was the meaning of the original agreement.
The judge said the issue before the court was whether the new law could be applied retroactively.
legal context: the issue before the court
- the point at issue
- the issue at hand
- the real issue
- the issue before the court
- point of contention
more formal; specifically the thing being argued over
- subject of debate
emphasises that people are actively arguing
- question
a simpler, less formal alternative
Grammar Patterns
the point at issue
the issue at hand
the real issue
Usage Note
This sense is typically singular and formal. The fixed phrase 'the point at issue' refers to the specific matter being argued. Distinguish from sense 1 (TOPIC) — sense 2 focuses on the exact point of dispute that requires resolution, whereas sense 1 covers any subject under general discussion.
Common Mistakes
3. something unimportant that someone treats as a big problem or serious matter, of
something unimportant that someone treats as a big problem or serious matter, often causing unnecessary argument or worry
João made an issue of the table being two centimetres away from the wall.
phrase: make an issue of something
Asher told his sister not to make an issue out of who got the bigger slice of cake.
phrase: make an issue out of something
Her boss kept making an issue of small typing errors that nobody else noticed.
Lien sighed and said, "Please do not make an issue of every tiny mistake I make."
- make an issue of
- make an issue out of
- make a fuss (over)
more general; can be about positive or negative things
- overreact (to)
focuses on the emotional reaction rather than the argument
Grammar Patterns
make an issue of + noun/gerund
make an issue out of + noun/gerund
Usage Note
Used almost exclusively in the fixed phrases 'make an issue of something' or 'make an issue out of something.' The object is typically a minor detail or a trivial action. Distinguish from sense 4 (CONFLICT) — sense 3 is about exaggerating the importance of something, not about having a disagreement itself.
Common Mistakes
4. a strong disagreement or angry feeling between two people or groups, often cause
a strong disagreement or angry feeling between two people or groups, often caused by a difference of opinion or a personal problem
Emre has had an issue with his neighbour ever since the fence was built.
phrase: have an issue with someone
The two managers have an issue that none of the staff dares to mention at meetings.
Noa told me she had a serious issue with one of the members of her study group.
Olivia and Christopher had an issue last year, but they eventually made up.
- have an issue with
- have issues with
- problem (with)
less specific; can refer to any difficulty, not just interpersonal
- quarrel
implies an active verbal argument
- dispute
more formal; often used for business or legal conflicts
Grammar Patterns
have an issue with + person
Usage Note
Used in the phrase 'have an issue with [someone].' The disagreement is usually personal and may be ongoing rather than a single argument. Distinguish from sense 5 (OBJECTION) — sense 4 involves conflict with a person, while sense 5 is about disliking or objecting to a thing or situation.
Common Mistakes
5. a feeling of personal dislike, disapproval, or unease toward a particular thing,
a feeling of personal dislike, disapproval, or unease toward a particular thing, situation, or type of behaviour that stops you from accepting it or feeling comfortable with it
Zuri has an issue with people who talk loudly on the phone in public places.
phrase: have an issue with [behaviour]
Some voters have an issue with the new policy because it raises taxes for small businesses.
Élise said she had no issue with working late, as long as she was told in advance.
The teacher had an issue with students using their phones during class.
- have an issue with
- have no issue with
- objection (to)
more formal; implies a stronger moral or practical opposition
- problem (with)
more general; can also refer to practical difficulties
- reservation (about)
implies doubt or uncertainty rather than full disapproval
Grammar Patterns
have an issue with + noun/gerund
Usage Note
Used in the phrase 'have an issue with [something].' The object is a thing, situation, or type of behaviour rather than a person. The negative form 'have no issue with' is very common and means 'have no objection to.' Distinguish from sense 4 (CONFLICT) — sense 5 is about personal disapproval of a thing, not a disagreement with a person.
Common Mistakes
6. a difficulty, problem, or source of worry that someone faces when dealing with a
a difficulty, problem, or source of worry that someone faces when dealing with a situation, a piece of equipment, or another person
Christopher has been having issues with his internet connection all week.
phrase: have issues with [equipment]
The new software caused several technical issues that took days to fix.
Many passengers experienced flight delays due to safety issues with the aircraft.
Erik told his landlord about the damp issues in the apartment bathroom.
- have issues with
- technical issues
- safety issues
- health issues
- cause issues
- problem
the most direct and common synonym; slightly more direct in tone
- difficulty
can suggest something that is hard to deal with rather than broken
- complication
implies something that makes a situation more complex
- solution
the answer or fix to an issue
Grammar Patterns
have issues with + noun/gerund
have + noun + issues
Usage Note
Often used in the plural ('issues') to refer to ongoing or multiple problems. The phrase 'have issues with' can refer to practical problems (sense 6) rather than personal objections (sense 5). Distinguish from sense 1 (TOPIC) — sense 6 refers to a concrete difficulty, while sense 1 refers to a subject of discussion.
Common Mistakes
7. a particular edition of a magazine, newspaper, or other regularly published work
a particular edition of a magazine, newspaper, or other regularly published work, identified by its date or number in the series.
The spring issue of the gardening magazine featured an article on growing roses.
the [season] issue of [magazine]
Have you seen the latest issue of The Economist, Yan?
the latest issue of [publication]
The librarian asked Nora to return the missing issue of the academic journal.
Ayesha bought a rare first issue of that comic book at an online auction.
first issue: the very first edition published
The issue dated June 2023 included photographs taken at the royal wedding.
- latest issue
- first issue
- spring/summer/winter issue
- back issue
Grammar Patterns
the [season/month] issue of [magazine/newspaper]
the latest issue of [publication]
Usage Note
Frequently used with 'the' and a time word: 'the January issue', 'the winter issue', 'the latest issue'. For verb uses of 'issue' meaning 'to publish', see issue (verb), sense 1.
Common Mistakes
8. a set of shares, bonds, or other financial products that a company or government
a set of shares, bonds, or other financial products that a company or government offers for sale to the public on one occasion.
The company announced a new issue of shares to raise money for new factories.
issue of shares: selling new stock to investors
Investors rushed to buy the latest bond issue, which offered a high rate of interest.
bond issue: selling government or corporate bonds
Renata's bank managed the stock issue for a small technology company.
The government's bond issue raised over five billion dollars for road projects.
The company's rights issue gave shareholders the chance to buy extra shares at a discount.
rights issue: existing shareholders get first chance to buy
- issue of shares
- bond issue
- stock issue
- rights issue
- new issue
Grammar Patterns
an issue of [shares/bonds]
a [bond/share/stock] issue
Usage Note
Common in financial news and official documents. Subject is usually a company or government. The most frequent patterns are 'an issue of shares' and 'a bond issue'. For the act of making something available in general (not just finance), see sense 9.
Common Mistakes
9. the official process of making something available to the public, such as publis
the official process of making something available to the public, such as publishing a document, distributing supplies, or giving out official items.
The issue of new passports was delayed because of a computer problem at the office.
the issue of [official items]
The government announced the issue of emergency supplies to families affected by the flood.
the issue of [supplies] to [recipients]
The issue of the official report is planned for next Monday morning.
Bilal helped with the issue of new identification cards to all staff members.
The issue of parking permits begins tomorrow at the town hall office.
the issue of [permits/tickets/licenses]
- the issue of [item]
- issue of passports/permits/supplies
- issue of a report/statement
- distribution
emphasises the act of giving items out to many people
- publication
specifically about making information available in printed or digital form
- release
more general; can apply to products, reports, or news
Grammar Patterns
the issue of [something]
the issue of [items] to [recipients]
Usage Note
Often uncountable and preceded by 'the'. The most common pattern is 'the issue of [something]'. This sense is about the action itself, not the copies produced — for the copies themselves, see sense 7 (PUBLICATION) for magazines or sense 8 (FINANCIAL OFFER) for shares.
Common Mistakes
10. a person's children or the generations that follow them in the family line, used
a person's children or the generations that follow them in the family line, used especially in legal and formal contexts to refer to all direct descendants.
The elderly duke died without issue, so his estate passed to a distant cousin.
die without issue: die with no children
The will said the land would belong to his issue for the next five generations.
According to the family records, she had issue from two different marriages.
have issue: have children (formal)
In legal documents, the word issue refers to all direct descendants, not only children.
- without issue
- die without issue
- leave no issue
- have issue
- descendants
broader; can include all future generations, not just immediate children
- offspring
formal but less legal; can also refer to animals
- progeny
very formal; rare in modern English
Grammar Patterns
without issue
die without issue
leave no issue
have issue
Usage Note
Uncountable in this sense — never 'an issue' or 'issues' when referring to descendants. Almost always appears in fixed legal phrases: 'die without issue', 'leave no issue', 'have issue'. This is an archaic/formal use; in everyday English, use 'children', 'descendants', or 'offspring' instead.
Common Mistakes
be at issue
idiomIt refers to the main point or question being discussed.
The safety of the new drug is at issue in today's meeting.
What is at issue here is whether the contract was signed fairly.
force the issue
idiomIt means to take action to make a decision happen sooner.
The manager forced the issue by setting a deadline for the vote.
By resigning, she forced the issue of who would lead the team.
It means to disagree or argue with someone about something.
I take issue with you on that point about the budget.
Sara took issue with her brother over the fairness of the game.
Word family
- issuernounC2
- issuancenounC2
- reissueverbC2
- reissuenounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These four words all refer to something people discuss or think about, but they differ in weight and scope. 'Topic' is the most neutral — it simply names what a conversation or piece of writing is about, with no suggestion of a problem or disagreement ('The topic of our class today was the solar system'). 'Subject' is also broad and neutral, often used for academic fields or general themes ('She wrote a book on the subject of modern art'). 'Issue' adds the implication that the topic involves a problem, debate, or public importance ('The rising cost of healthcare is a major issue in this election'). 'Matter' is more formal and suggests something that needs attention or action, without necessarily implying controversy ('The board will discuss the matter of staff salaries'). 'Concern' focuses on the emotional dimension — something that worries or personally affects people ('Parents expressed concern about the new school safety rules'). An issue is often also a concern, but not every concern is an issue: issues are debated publicly, while concerns can be private. For everyday use: if the emphasis is on public debate or disagreement over something important, choose 'issue'; if you just mean what someone is talking about, 'topic' is safer.
Common collocations
Nouns
- issue date
- issue price
- issue number
Adverbs
- directly issue
- jointly issue
- formally issue
- currently issue
- recently issue
Phrases
- at issue
- take issue with
- make an issue of
- have issues with
- the issue of
Prepositions
- issue with
- issue about
- issue of
Etymology
The word 'issue' entered English in the 1200s from Old French 'issue', meaning 'a way out' or 'an exit'. The French word came from the feminine past participle of 'issir' (to go out), which itself came from Latin 'exire' — a combination of 'ex-' (out) and 'ire' (to go). The original English meaning was physical: water issuing from a spring, or soldiers issuing from a gate. Over time, the sense broadened from a physical exit to the result or outcome of something (what 'comes out' of a situation). By the 1600s, in legal contexts, 'issue' had come to mean the specific point that comes out of a dispute — the question to be decided. The publication meaning (a single 'issue' of a magazine) emerged in the 1800s from the idea of something 'sent forth' on a regular basis. The financial sense (an 'issue' of shares) developed in the 1700s, drawing on the same image of officially putting something into circulation. The modern informal senses ('have an issue with', 'make an issue of') appeared in the mid-1900s. The legal sense of 'issue' meaning 'descendants' traces back to a different metaphor: one's children are what one 'puts forth' into the world.