dispute

1 of 2

verb

dis·​pute di-ˈspyüt How to pronounce dispute (audio)
disputed; disputing

intransitive verb

: to engage in argument : debate
especially : to argue irritably or with irritating persistence

transitive verb

1
a
: to make the subject of verbal controversy or disputation
Legislators hotly disputed the bill.
b
: to call into question or cast doubt upon
Her honesty was never disputed.
The witness disputed the defendant's claim.
2
a
: to struggle against : oppose
disputed the advance of the invaders
b
: to contend over
disputing ownership of the land
disputable
di-ˈspyü-tə-bəl How to pronounce dispute (audio)
ˈdi-spyə-
adjective
disputably
di-ˈspyü-tə-blē How to pronounce dispute (audio)
ˈdi-spyə-
adverb
disputer noun

dispute

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: verbal controversy : debate
a dispute about what to do with the surplus
a landlord-tenant dispute
legal disputes
The matter is still in dispute.
b
: quarrel
Police were called to a domestic dispute.
2
obsolete : physical combat

Examples of dispute in a Sentence

Verb You can dispute your bill if you believe it is inaccurate. These estimates are hotly disputed by scientists. No one ever disputed that it was the right decision. The source of the text has been disputed for centuries. a part of the city where two drug gangs are disputing territory Noun They could not settle their dispute. There is a labor dispute between workers and management. The two farmers are involved in a land dispute.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Biden repeatedly disputed the idea, even as a consensus formed: in December, a Financial Times survey of economists found that eighty-five per cent predicted a recession within a year. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Steinberg disputed that funding for these programs is just going to go away. Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 Owasso school officials disputed the claims on Friday. USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 The board's validity is being disputed in court by a new board, elected in 2022 by community members and made up of Pompano Beach residents, most of whom have family buried in the cemetery. Gerard Albert, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024 The company, Atlanta Film Animals, disputes PETA’s claims related to a variety of its creatures, from monkeys to cockatoos. Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024 More:What is the best way to dispute my City of Milwaukee parking ticket? Quinn Clark, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Prosecutors have disputed these claims in motions before the court, but a judge found them concerning enough to recuse the Utah County Attorney’s Office from prosecuting Hamblin’s case. Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 Recent studies have hinted that the drug might slightly reduce opioid dependency rates, although this, too, is disputed. Jesse Greenspan, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024
Noun
This encompasses various legal disputes related to taxes, from audits and appeals to wage garnishments and back taxes. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Your card’s dispute department should have tried to help you instead of simply denying your claim. Christopher Elliott, King Features Syndicate, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Origins of the dispute Carbone, a 39-year-old in-home care provider, filed her first request for a domestic violence restraining order against Vena in June 2020. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Tolson was there to meet with a tenant, the affidavit says, but that tenant refused to let them in because of an ongoing dispute with Terrill. Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 Concerns have been raised about potential clauses in the corporate charters of these entities that mandate fiduciary disputes to be resolved in Delaware courts. Nizan Geslevich Packin, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The dispute began in July when X filed suit against the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that tracks hate speech on social platforms and had warned that the platform was seeing an increase in hateful content. Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024 But Cantu claimed rival drug dealer killed his cousin in a dispute over money. Albinson Linares, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024 And what if the dispute involves children causing an annoyance? Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dispute.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French desputer, from Latin disputare to discuss, from dis- + putare to think

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of dispute was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near dispute

Cite this Entry

“Dispute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispute. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dispute

1 of 2 verb
dis·​pute dis-ˈpyüt How to pronounce dispute (audio)
disputed; disputing
1
: to engage in argument : debate
2
: to quarrel angrily : wrangle
3
: to question the truth or rightness of
dispute a statement
4
: to fight over : contest
the two nations disputed the territory
disputer noun

dispute

2 of 2 noun
1
2
: an angry difference of opinion : quarrel

Legal Definition

dispute

1 of 2 verb
dis·​pute di-ˈspyüt How to pronounce dispute (audio)
disputed; disputing

intransitive verb

: to engage in a dispute
disputing with management over contract terms

transitive verb

: to engage in a dispute over
disputing the correct application of the contract provision
especially : to oppose by argument or assertion
disputed changes to the grievance procedure

dispute

2 of 2 noun
: an assertion of opposing views or claims : a disagreement as to rights
especially : one that is the subject of proceedings for resolution (as arbitration)

More from Merriam-Webster on dispute

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