Word
argument
Phoneticsar·gu·ment, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɑɹɡjəmənt/
UK/ˈɑːɡjuːmənt/
Definitions
01a verbal dispute
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. an angry disagreement or fight between people using words.
n. a verbal dispute or quarrel between individuals, often involving heated emotion.
日本語:口喧嘩※
“My neighbors had a loud argument about where to park their car.”
“The couple had a heated argument regarding their financial priorities, which resulted in neither party speaking to the other for several days.”
Pitfall
I had an argument to my brother.
I had an argument with my brother.
Use the preposition 'with' to indicate the person you are arguing against.
02a reason for a belief
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Logic Academic
n. a set of reasons you use to show that your opinion is right.
n. a coherent series of reasons, statements, or facts intended to support or establish a point of view.
“The writer presents a strong argument for why we should protect the oceans.”
“The defense attorney constructed a compelling argument based on forensic evidence to prove his client's innocence.”
03computing/math parameter
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a value or piece of information given to a computer program or a math function.
n. an independent variable or a value passed to a function or routine to affect its operation.
Español:argumento
“The function requires a number as an argument to calculate the total.”
“The script failed because the developer passed a string as an argument when the method expected an integer.”
Usage
In programming, 'argument' refers to the actual value passed, while 'parameter' refers to the variable defined in the function.
04linguistic structure
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Linguistics Academic · Technical
n. a word or phrase that completes the meaning of a verb.
n. any of the phrases that bear a specific syntactic or semantic relationship to the verb in a clause.
“In the sentence 'He ate an apple', 'an apple' is an argument of the verb.”
“The professor explained that certain verbs require two arguments to form a grammatically complete sentence.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “argument” in context.
Confusables
An argument involves conflict or a heated disagreement, while a discussion is a neutral exchange of ideas.
RememberArgument = Anger. Discussion = Dialogue.
An argument can be a logical case or a disagreement, while a quarrel is always a heated, emotional conflict.
RememberArgument = Logic or fight. Quarrel = Only a fight.
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin arguō Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-məntom Latin -mentum Latin argūmentumder. Anglo-Norman arguementbor. Middle English argument English argument From Middle English argument, from Anglo-Norman and Old French arguement, from Latin argumentum. The English word is analysable as argue + -ment. Doublet of argumentum. Displaced native Old English racu and ġeflit.
Etymology tree Latin arguō Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-məntom Latin -mentum Latin argūmentum Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin argūmentorder. Old French argumenterbor. Middle English argumenten English argument The obsolete senses are derived from Middle English argumenten (“to argue, discuss; to consider, reflect”), from Old French argumenter (“to argue”), from Latin argūmentārī (“to adduce arguments or proof, prove, reason; to adduce (something) as argument or proof; to conclude”), from argūmentum (“argument (for a position); evidence, proof; point, theme; thesis, topic; plot (in theatre)”) (see further at etymology 1) + -or (the first-person singular present passive indicative of -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)). The current sense is derived from the noun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/argument
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0