English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English contencion, borrowed from Old French contencion, from Latin contentio, contentionem, from contendō (past participle contentus); equivalent to contend +‎ -tion (similar formation to attention).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /kənˈtɛnʃən/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: con‧ten‧tion

Noun edit

contention (countable and uncountable, plural contentions)

  1. Argument, contest, debate, strife, struggle.
  2. A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion of strife; a position taken or contended for.
    It is my contention that state lotteries are taxes on stupid people.
  3. (computing, telecommunications) Competition by parts of a system or its users for a limited resource.

Synonyms edit

Hyponyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Related terms of contention

Translations edit

References edit

Further reading edit

Old French edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin contentio, contentionem. Cf. the inherited form contençon, and see also tençon.

Noun edit

contention oblique singularf (oblique plural contentions, nominative singular contention, nominative plural contentions)

  1. dispute; quarrel; disagreement

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

  • English: contention
  • French: contention