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contentious

Pronunciation: /kənˈtɛnʃəs/

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Definition of contentious

adjective

  • causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial:a contentious issue
  • involving heated argument:the socio-economic plan had been the subject of contentious debate
  • (of a person) given to provoking argument.
  • Law relating to or involving differences between contending parties.

Derivatives

contentiously

adverb

contentiousness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French contentieux, from Latin contentiosus, from content- 'striven', from the verb contendere

contentious in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of contentious in the US English dictionary

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