contentioncon‧ten‧tion /kənˈtenʃən/ ●○○ noun 
Her main contention is that doctors should do more to encourage healthy eating.► see thesaurus at claim2[uncountable] formal argument and disagreement between peoplesource/area/point of contention The issue of hunting is a source of contention. → bone of contention at bone1(5)3in contention having a chance of winning something: Owen’s goal kept England in contention.4out of contention no longer having a chance of winning something: Injury has put him out of contention for the title.
WORD ORIGINcontention
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French, Latin contentio, from contendere; ➔ CONTENDEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A key area of contention is the call for the wilderness to be opened to oil and gas drilling.
- Another point of contention is financial.
- But some of his contentions seem overstated.
- Exactly how many years remains a point of contention.
- I could see the contention in his wrinkled face.
- The contention continued for four years and the underlying reason for it was pique.
- The main point of contention now is not whether, but how long a scaled-down force should remain.
- The respondent's contention is that there is a difference between a public and a private Act.
THESAURUS
a statement that something is true, even though it has not been proved: · It is difficult to believe some of the manufacturer's claims for its products.
a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal, but that has not been proved: · He has strongly denied the allegations of sexual harassment.
formal something that you say or write that you strongly believe: · the assertion that house prices are falling
formal a strong opinion that someone expresses: · Her main contention is that doctors should do more to encourage healthy eating.
Longman Language Activatorcausing disagreement something that is controversial causes a lot of disagreement and angry argument, especially in the newspaper, on television etc: · A recent government paper on education contains some controversial new ideas.· Rossellini's controversial film, "The Miracle"· The decision to use the bomb remains the most controversial question of the Second World War.
: contentious issue/subject/problem etc one that is likely to cause a lot of disagreement and argument: · Abortion has always been a contentious subject.· the contentious issue of arms sales to non-democratic countries
a subject that people strongly disagree about for a long time and often argue about: · The new tax on property is likely to become a serious bone of contention.bone of contention between: · The way we manage money has been the only real bone of contention between us.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The issue of hunting is a source of contention. Owen’s goal kept England in contention. Injury has put him out of contention for the title.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
The issue of hunting is a source of contention. Owen’s goal kept England in contention. Injury has put him out of contention for the title.· A third main cause of contention between the two parties was foreign policy.· I did know that this was in fact the main bone of contention upstairs.· When we gave it a tightfisted 52% in Issue 79, our main bone of contention was that it was ridiculously overpriced.· The main point of contention now is not whether, but how long a scaled-down force should remain.· The failure to reach agreement came after a day of turmoil in Kashmir, the main bone of contention.· One of their main contentions is that a vital witness, property millionaire, Nicholas Hoogstraten, should called.· The main bone of contention was the war in Chechnya.· Its main contention is that there is no irrevocable conflict of interest between the different parties.
VERB· In the first place he disputed the contention of Oldfield's lawyer that the original, 1972 contract was unfair.· Most Keynesians, therefore, dispute the contention that changes in interest rates directly affect the price level.
· Three penalties by Hobbs kept Bradford firmly in contention and another soon after the interval levelled the scores at 8-8.· Charlton's win keeps them right in contention.
· To put these contentions into effect the applicant made two applications in the district court to which the cases had been transferred.· They will need a good showing to put themselves back in contention for a place in Britain's Olympic squad.
· For the reasons set out in the judgment of Staughton L.J. I would reject that contention.· In such circumstances we reject the contentions advanced on behalf of the appellant on this first ground of appeal.
· Heading into the last weekend of the regular season, a record 17 out of 28 teams remain in play-off contention.· Exactly how many years remains a point of contention.· But Ilona's alter-ego remains a bone of contention between them.· Whether Reform Party nominee Perot will be included also remains a point of contention.
· Despite Mansell's denials, technical data leaked from Ferrari sources appear to support Prost's contentions.· Yet the historic record does not support this contention.· This critique of utilitarianism would seem to support Gandhi's contention that in comparison with sarvodaya utilitarianism shows a lack of dignity and humanity.· Evidence to support the contention that this approach benefited low-income residents of cities or resolved social problems is notably lacking.· These facts support the contention that the market's purchasing power is high.· But he produced no figures to support his contention.· Despite the catalogue of comments, there is precious little in his past or present to support such a contention.· Various Soviet military assets in Cam Ranh Bay are currently listed to support this contention.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► out of contentionPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[countable] formal a strong opinion that someone expressessomebody’s contention that- One of the issues in contention is barriers to trade.
- There are still six teams in contention for the playoffs.
- The new tax on property is likely to become a serious bone of contention.
- The way we manage money has been the only real bone of contention between us.
- But the pool table proved to be a bigger bone of contention.
- Churchill had been the latest bone of contention, as he had begun to make public speeches which Chamberlain clearly found embarrassing.
- I did know that this was in fact the main bone of contention upstairs.
- It is the positions of the international boundaries and access to natural resources that are the real bones of contention.
- Mr Zhao's fate, and by association his legacy, have become a big bone of contention in the leadership.
- Personal appearances always seemed to be a bone of contention.
- Schools are, by far, the largest part of the state budget and often a bone of contention.
- The initial bone of contention was the question of the terms on which sympathizers should be admitted to the Party.
Her main contention is that doctors should do more to encourage healthy eating.► see thesaurus at claim2[uncountable] formal argument and disagreement between peoplesource/area/point of contention The issue of hunting is a source of contention. → bone of contention at bone1(5)3in contention having a chance of winning something: Owen’s goal kept England in contention.4out of contention no longer having a chance of winning something: Injury has put him out of contention for the title.