# contentious

/kənˈtɛnʃəs/ (US) · /kəntˈɛnʃəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/contentious
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. causing disagreement

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

causing a lot of angry disagreement or heated discussion between people.

For teachers: likely to cause controversy or heated public debate. Often used to describe topics, decisions, or policies.

- The decision to build a new road through the park was very contentious.
- The proposed changes to the pension scheme remain a highly contentious issue among union members and government officials alike.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'a contentious issue' or 'a contentious decision'.

### 2. liking to argue

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

describes a person who often argues or likes to start fights with others.

For teachers: exhibiting an argumentative or quarrelsome nature. This sense focuses on the personality trait rather than the topic of debate.

- He has a contentious relationship with his neighbors and they often argue.
- The committee's progress was frequently stalled by a few contentious members who refused to compromise on even minor points.

Teaching tip: This sense is less common than the 'controversial issue' sense; in modern English, 'argumentative' is usually preferred for people.

## Examples

- The new tax law is a very contentious issue.
- The committee avoided the most contentious topics during the first meeting to ensure everyone felt comfortable working together.
- The historian's latest book offers a highly contentious interpretation of the war, challenging established narratives and sparking fierce debate among his academic peers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.