contention
noun
con·ten·tion
kən-ˈten(t)-shən 
1
: a point advanced or maintained in a debate or argument
It is his contention that allowing a casino to be built would not be in the best interests of the city.
2
: an act or instance of contending
He has taken himself out of contention for the directorship.
3
Examples of contention in a Sentence
Tiger Woods splashed his way into contention in the New Zealand Open … shooting a four under par to close within six strokes of the lead.
—
New York Times, 13 Jan. 2002
The issues behind the protest are the usual bones of collective-bargaining contention: pay increases, vacation time, union membership.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 17 & 24 June 2002
Science, and academic scholarship in general, the contention these days goes, is too subjective. Some even allege it's entirely subjective, as is, they say, history.
—Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1996
All quotes from QDB.
That has been a source of contention for years.
He is in contention for the Olympic medal.
New York Times, 13 Jan. 2002
The issues behind the protest are the usual bones of collective-bargaining contention: pay increases, vacation time, union membership.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 17 & 24 June 2002
Science, and academic scholarship in general, the contention these days goes, is too subjective. Some even allege it's entirely subjective, as is, they say, history.
—Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World, 1996
All quotes from QDB.
That has been a source of contention for years.
He is in contention for the Olympic medal.
Recent Examples on the Web
One other prospective appointee — a 2024 presidential contender, Cincinnati pharmaceutical entrepreneur and Vance insider Vivek Ramaswamy — pulled out of contention after accepting a position in the new Trump administration.
—CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
Lutnick, who was backed by Musk, slid out of contention as Treasury secretary as Trump grew tired of his public lobbying for the role, according to the New York Times.
—Derek Saul, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Gaetz is the first of Trump’s picks to pull his name out of contention to join the incoming administration.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024
Overcoming Division with Creativity The place of entertainment in public debate has long been a source of contention.
—Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contention 
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CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
Lutnick, who was backed by Musk, slid out of contention as Treasury secretary as Trump grew tired of his public lobbying for the role, according to the New York Times.
—Derek Saul, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Gaetz is the first of Trump’s picks to pull his name out of contention to join the incoming administration.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024
Overcoming Division with Creativity The place of entertainment in public debate has long been a source of contention.
—Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contention
Dictionary Entries Near contention
Cite this Entry
“Contention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contention. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contention
noun
con·ten·tion
kən-ˈten-chən
1
: an act or instance of contending
2
: an idea or point for which a person argues (as in a debate or argument)
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