contest

 

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒntɛst/
  • an event in which people compete for supremacy in a sport or other activity, or in a quality: a tennis contest
  • a competition for a political position: a leadership contest
  • a dispute or conflict: a contest between traditional and liberal views

verb

Pronunciation: /kənˈtɛst/
[with object]
  • 1engage in competition to attain (a position of power): she declared her intention to contest the presidency
  • take part in (a competition or election): a coalition was formed to contest the presidential elections
  • 2oppose (an action or theory) as mistaken or wrong: the former chairman contests his dismissal
  • engage in dispute about: the issues have been hotly contested

Phrases

no contest

  • 1chiefly USanother term for nolo contendere. he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts
  • 2a decision by the referee to declare a boxing match invalid on the grounds that one or both of the boxers are not making serious efforts.
  • a competition, comparison, or choice of which the outcome is a foregone conclusion: when the two teams faced each other it was no contest

Derivatives

contestability

noun

contestable

Pronunciation: /kənˈtɛstəb(ə)l/
adjective

contestably

Pronunciation: /kənˈtɛstəbli/
adverb

contester

Pronunciation: /kənˈtɛstə/
noun

Origin:

late 16th century (as a verb in the sense 'swear to, attest'): from Latin contestari 'call upon to witness, initiate (by calling witnesses)', from con- 'together' + testare 'to witness'. The senses 'wrangle, struggle for' arose in the early 17th century, whence the current noun and verb senses