Standard Lemma guide

argy-bargy

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • General-American: /ˈɑɹdʒiˌbɑɹdʒi/
  • General-American: /ˈɑɹɡiˌbɑɹɡi/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɑːdʒiˌbɑːdʒi/
  • rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)dʒi

1

noun

Meaning 1

A noisy disagreement, often with some fighting

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, countable, uncountable

Examples

  • There was a wee bit of an argy-bargy outside the pub.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To argue.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a verbal dispute; a wrangling argument

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: argle-bargle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: controversy, contention, contestation, disputation, disceptation, tilt, argument, arguing

History

Etymology

From Scots, variant of argle-bargle, documented since 1822, presumably due to replacement of -le (“frequentative”) with -y (“diminutive”), documented since 1857, but without effect on the meaning.