dispute
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
to argue or debate about; discuss.
Whether excessive time spent on the internet can be called an addiction is hotly disputed.
-
to argue against; call into question.
Historians dispute this claim, suggesting Raleigh could not possibly have discovered the potato in the places he visited.
-
to quarrel or fight about; contest.
We stopped to watch a puffed-up crow disputing territory with a cat.
-
Archaic. to strive against; oppose.
to dispute an advance of troops.
noun
-
a debate, controversy, or difference of opinion.
Players were elated when the equal pay dispute was finally resolved.
-
a wrangling argument; quarrel.
Some women at the end of the bar were having a noisy dispute about who should be the designated driver.
- Synonyms:
- bickering, squabble, wrangle, altercation, disputation
idioms
verb
-
to argue, debate, or quarrel about (something)
-
(tr; may take a clause as object) to doubt the validity, etc, of
-
(tr) to seek to win; contest for
-
(tr) to struggle against; resist
noun
Synonym Usage
See argument.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
disputesimple
-
disputessimple
-
have disputedperfect
-
has disputedperfect
-
am disputingprogressive
-
are disputingprogressive
-
is disputingprogressive
-
have been disputingperfect progressive
-
has been disputingperfect progressive
Past
-
disputedsimple
-
had disputedperfect
-
was disputingprogressive
-
were disputingprogressive
-
had been disputingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dispute
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English verb disputen, dispuiten, desputen, either from Anglo-French, Old French desputer or directly from Latin disputāre “to argue a point,” equivalent to dis- dis- 1 + putāre “to reckon, consider”; noun derivative of the verb; see putative
Explanation
If kids can't settle their own argument, they may need someone to mediate their dispute, or conflict. You can often tell this is the case if you hear the loud cry, "Mom!" The noun dispute means any conflict or disagreement. The countries were in the middle of a border dispute; both sides claimed the toxic waste dump belonged to the other. As a verb, dispute can mean to quarrel or argue, but it can also mean to take exception to something. If your boasting friend crows because you lost the trivia game to her by 150 points, you may want to dispute the facts. It was only 145 points.
Vocabulary lists containing dispute
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: The Language of the Test
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Instead, she was left with severe swelling, an open wound and a legal dispute with the surgeon who performed her botched procedure in Kyrgyzstan.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
The BBC understands it was Forde's intervention in this argument off camera that led to the dispute with Rainbow minutes later.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
At the heart of the resumption of hostilities has been the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that is crucial for global oil and gas flows.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
The dispute highlights a longstanding conflict between government secrecy and the public’s right to know.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
Coke’s initial reaction to the Pepsi Challenge was to dispute its findings.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
The contractor for Los Angeles International Airport’s long-awaited automatic people mover train filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles amid ongoing disputes with the airport over project delays.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
Most investment contracts include an arbitration clause for resolving disputes.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
That tension has defined some of the most significant First Amendment battles in American history, including disputes over classified documents, confidential sources and government efforts to identify journalists’ sources.
From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026
“Had there been a basic level of trust between the parties or an agreed mechanism for resolving disputes, these interpretive gaps could have been managed,” Zimmt said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
As you can imagine, ABC News disputes this study vigorously.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
London and Madrid have disputed control of Gibraltar since the tiny territory -- known affectionately as "The Rock" -- was ceded to Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
However, the Ministry of Justice has disputed the figure, saying its own review puts the number of unmonitored individuals at 5,450.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
But the three passengers in his vehicle — one of whom is Salgado Araujo’s brother — who were detained and taken to the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, disputed ICE’s account.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Han, a 36-year-old with a Stanford master’s in business, disputed Waite and Keller’s accounts and said the dollar amounts they claim are “unfounded.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Estraven asked, “How does it chance that you, the Lord of Stok, are here on disputed land alone?”
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Jolie later pushed back in her own court filings, disputing Pitt’s characterization of Shefler.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
We argued that the government shouldn’t be allowed to punish American citizens while forbidding them from publicly disputing the accusations, aside from grave matters of national security.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
The case has garnered the attention of the federal Department of Justice, which filed a brief this month disputing an argument made by the insurers to have the case thrown out.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 16, 2026
Meta is also disputing how penalties are calculated when multiple companies owned by the same parent organisation are found jointly liable for breaches.
From BBC ● May 7, 2026
“Well,” said Emma, “there is no disputing about taste.—At least you admire her except her complexion.”
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
