dispute

noun

/dɪˈspjuːt/, /ˈdɪspjuːt/

[countable, uncountable]

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an argument between two people, groups or countries; discussion about a subject on which people disagree
- industrial/pay disputes
- dispute between A and B a dispute between the two countries about the border
- dispute over/about something the latest dispute over fishing rights
- in dispute with somebody/something The union is in dispute with management over working hours.
- in/under dispute The cause of the accident was still in dispute (= being argued about).
- These are not the issues under dispute.
- beyond dispute The matter was settled beyond dispute by the court judgment (= it could no longer be argued about).
- open to dispute His theories are open to dispute (= can be disagreed with).
Extra Examples
- He proposed a negotiated settlement of the outstanding disputes between the two countries.
- The incident sparked off a major dispute between the two countries.
- The purpose of industrial tribunals is to adjudicate disputes between employers and employees.
- There were lengthy internal disputes between the two wings of the party.
- a jurisdictional dispute between the Army and the CIA
- a long-standing dispute between the families over ownership of the land.
- to minimize the scope for dispute over the meaning of the terms employed
- There is considerable dispute over the precise definition of ‘social class’ as a term.
- The actual sum of compensation due is still in dispute.
- The employees have been in dispute with management for three weeks.
- They became embroiled in a dispute with their competitors.
- No one could remember exactly how the dispute had arisen.
- Police have difficulties in dealing with domestic disputes.
- The exact relationship between the two languages is a matter of dispute among scholars.
- The simmering dispute erupted in public when the two men came to blows at the party conference.
- There is no dispute as to the facts.
- disputes concerning environmental protection
- one of the many factors that led to the dispute
- His job is to settle pay disputes.
Topics Opinion and argumentc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- considerable
- major
- serious
- …
verb + dispute
- cause
- lead to
- provoke
- …
dispute + verb
- arise
- begin
- erupt
- …
preposition
- beyond dispute
- in dispute (with)
- under dispute
- …
phrases
- a matter, point, subject, etc. of dispute
- the resolution of a dispute
- the settlement of a dispute
- …
See full entry
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin disputare ‘to estimate’ (in late Latin ‘to dispute’), from dis- ‘apart’ + putare ‘reckon’.

dispute

verb

/dɪˈspjuːt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they dispute	/dɪˈspjuːt/ /dɪˈspjuːt/
he / she / it disputes	/dɪˈspjuːts/ /dɪˈspjuːts/
past simple disputed	/dɪˈspjuːtɪd/ /dɪˈspjuːtɪd/
past participle disputed	/dɪˈspjuːtɪd/ /dɪˈspjuːtɪd/
-ing form disputing	/dɪˈspjuːtɪŋ/ /dɪˈspjuːtɪŋ/

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[transitive] to question whether something is true or legally or officially acceptable
- dispute something These figures have been disputed.
- to dispute a decision/claim
- The family wanted to dispute the will.
- dispute that… No one is disputing that there is a problem.
- dispute whether, how, etc… | it is disputed whether, how, etc… It is disputed whether the law applies in this case.
Extra Examples
- No one can dispute the fact that men still hold the majority of public offices.
- The minister disputed the claim that the funding was insufficient.
- The players disputed the referee's decision.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- hotly
- strongly
- vigorously
- …
verb + dispute
- can
See full entry
[transitive, intransitive] to argue or disagree strongly with somebody about something, especially about who owns something
- dispute something (with somebody) I tried to dispute the bill with the waiter.
- The United Nations recognizes the area as a disputed territory.
- The issue remains hotly disputed.
- dispute with somebody He taught and disputed with local poets.
Extra Examples
- The effectiveness of this treatment is still hotly disputed.
- The ownership of this land has been disputed for centuries.
Topics Opinion and argumentc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- hotly
- strongly
- vigorously
- …
verb + dispute
- can
See full entry
[transitive] dispute something to fight to get control of something or to win something
- On the last lap three runners were disputing the lead.

Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin disputare ‘to estimate’ (in late Latin ‘to dispute’), from dis- ‘apart’ + putare ‘reckon’.