Phrase guide

bone of contention

noun · 2 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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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbəʊn əv kənˈtɛnʃən/
  • US: /ˈboʊn əv kənˈtɛnʃən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Something that continues to be disputed; something on which no agreement can be reached.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • It is still a bone of contention whether to go ahead with the original plan in light of the new evidence.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the subject of a dispute

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the real bone of contention, as you know, is money

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: subject, topic, theme

History

Etymology

A reference to two dogs fighting over the same bone.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: я́блъка на раздо́ра (jáblǎka na razdóra) — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Czech: jablko sváru — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Dutch: twistpunt — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Estonian: tüliõun — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Finnish: kiistakapula — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Finnish: riitakapula — Something that continues to be disputed
  • French: pomme de discorde — Something that continues to be disputed
  • German: Zankapfel — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Italian: pomo della discordia — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Latvian: strīda ābols — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Polish: kość niezgody — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Polish: jabłko niezgody — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Russian: я́блоко раздо́ра (jábloko razdóra) — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Slovak: jablko sváru — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Swedish: stridsäpple — Something that continues to be disputed
  • Swedish: tvistefrö — Something that continues to be disputed