Word
dispute
Phoneticsdis·pute, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈspjut/
UK/dɪspjˈuːt/
Definitions
01a disagreement
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a serious argument or disagreement, especially one that lasts a long time.
n. a formal or public disagreement between parties, often involving legal, industrial, or territorial claims.
日本語:論争※
“The two neighbors are in a long dispute over where the fence should be.”
“The labor dispute escalated when the union rejected the management's final offer, leading to a nationwide strike.”
Synonyms
02to question the truth
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to say that a fact, statement, or result is not true or not correct.
v. to challenge the validity or accuracy of a statement, claim, or figure. Transitive — takes a direct object.
“The player decided to dispute the referee's decision during the game.”
“The defense attorney sought to dispute the forensic evidence, arguing that the samples had been contaminated during transport.”
03to fight for control
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to fight for control of something, like a piece of land.
v. to compete for or strive to win something; often used regarding territory or power. Often used in the passive voice.
日本語:争う※
“The two armies disputed the small island for several months.”
“The strategic mountain pass was fiercely disputed throughout the winter campaign, as both sides recognized its importance for the spring offensive.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dispute” in context.
Verb
01. adjudicate the dispute
“The international court has the authority to adjudicate the dispute over maritime boundaries.”
verb + noun
02. resolve the dispute
“An independent mediator was brought in to help resolve the dispute between the union and management.”
verb + noun
03. settle a dispute
“The two nations finally agreed to a ceasefire to settle their long-standing border dispute.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. bitter dispute
“The bitter dispute over the inheritance divided the family for several generations.”
adj + noun
05. ongoing dispute
“The ongoing dispute regarding trade tariffs continues to affect global markets.”
adj + noun
06. protracted dispute
“After a protracted dispute lasting three years, the company finally reached an out-of-court settlement.”
adj + noun
Preposition
07. beyond dispute
“The impact of human activity on the climate is now considered beyond dispute by the scientific community.”
prep + noun
08. in dispute
“The exact figures are still in dispute, as both parties have provided conflicting data.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Lungu died more than a year ago and his body remains unburied in South Africa, amid a bitter dispute between Lungu's family and Hichilema, which has heightened political divisions in Zambia.” “The latest controversy concerns a dispute over the region’s libraries.” “The British Medical Association is in dispute with Manx Care over "pay erosion since 2008".” “Resident doctors are taking part in an industrial action in a dispute over pay.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dews-? Proto-Indo-European *dus- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwís Latin dis- Proto-Italic *putos Latin putus? Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin putō Latin disputo Old French desputerbor. Middle English disputen English dispute From Middle English disputen, from Old French desputer (French disputer), from Latin disputāre (“to dispute, discuss, examine, compute, estimate”), from dis- (“apart”) + putāre (“to reckon, consider, think, originally make clean, clear up”), related to purus (“pure”). Compare compute, count, impute, repute, amputate, etc.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/dispute
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0