noun
contention
kuhn-TEHN-shuhn
noun
1
A claim or position put forward and argued for, especially in a debate.
"It is her contention that the policy will backfire."
2
Heated disagreement or dispute.
"The inheritance became a source of bitter contention among the siblings."
3
Competition between parties or systems for a limited resource.
"Several processes were in contention for the same memory."
How to Use Contention
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither an argued claim ("my contention is...") or open conflict/dispute over something.
Common pairings
a bone of contention
in contention for
point of contention
Word Forms
contentions plural
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It is her _____ that the policy will backfire.
Etymology
From Old French contencion, from Latin contentio, built from contendere ("to contend") + -tion.