noun · 6 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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/kənˈtɛnʃən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AH0 N T EH1 N SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Argument, contest, debate, strife, struggle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion of strife; a position taken or contended for.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
It is my contention that state lotteries are taxes on stupid people.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Competition by parts of a system or its users for a limited resource.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
From Middle English contencion, borrowed from Old French contencion, from Latin contentio, contentionem, from contendō (past participle contentus); equivalent to contend + -tion (similar formation to attention).
Across languages
Translations
68 source translations are retained for this English entry.
