# issue

/ˈɪʃu/ (US) · /ˈɪʃuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/issue
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. a problem or topic

noun · CEFR B1

an important topic or problem that people are thinking and talking about.

For teachers: a point or matter in contest between two or more parties; a subject of widespread concern or debate.

- Climate change is one of the most serious issues facing the world today.
- The candidates spent the majority of the debate addressing economic issues rather than focusing on foreign policy.

### 2. magazine edition

noun · CEFR B1

one specific version of a newspaper or magazine from a particular day or month.

For teachers: a single copy or edition of a periodical publication.

- Have you read the latest issue of the school magazine?
- The September issue of the journal features a comprehensive review of recent advancements in molecular biology.

### 3. children/offspring

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

your children or the people who come after you in your family.

For teachers: offspring or progeny; often used in legal contexts regarding inheritance.

- The old king died without any issue to take the throne.
- The will stipulated that the estate should be divided equally among his living issue.

### 4. to give out officially

verb · CEFR B2

to officially give something to someone, like a passport, a warning, or a statement.

For teachers: to produce or provide something officially; to put into circulation.

- The police issued a warning about the heavy snow expected tonight.
- The department will issue new identification cards to all staff members by the end of the fiscal year.

### 5. to flow out

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to come out of something or flow out from a place.

For teachers: to come forth or proceed from a source; to emerge or result from.

- A strange smell started to issue from the old basement.
- Thick plumes of smoke began to issue from the factory chimneys, obscuring the morning horizon.

## Examples

- Money is a big issue for many students.
- The main issue on the meeting's agenda is the new budget proposal.
- While the technical issue was solved quickly, the underlying ethical issue of data privacy sparked a much longer and more contentious debate among the board members.

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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.