contention

noun

USkuhn-TEN-shuhn/kənˈtɛnʃən/

Pluralcontentions (some meanings)

3 meanings of contention

1
noununcountable
Angry disagreement or fighting between people who do not agree.
Like a tug-of-war, where both sides keep pulling hard against each other.
There was a lot of contention between the two teams after the match.
The new parking rules caused contention among the neighbors.
Similardispute, disagreement, conflict, strife, discord
Oppositeagreement, harmony, accord, concord
Note
2
nouncountable
A point or claim that you argue is true and try to defend.
Like the main point you raise your hand to defend in class.
My main contention is that the test was unfair to younger students.
Her contention was simple: everyone deserves a second chance.
Similarargument, claim, assertion, position, view
Note
3
noununcountable
When different parts of a computer or network try to use the same limited resource at the same time.
Like several people reaching for the same cup of water at once, when only one can have it.
Heavy contention for the shared printer caused long delays in the office.
When many programs run together, contention for memory slows everything down.
Similarcompetition
Note

Practice

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Origin

It came from Latin contentio, from the verb contendo meaning to strive, through Old French and Middle English.