Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

contentious

adjective
 
 
/kənˈten.ʃəs/

Definition

causing or likely to cause disagreement: a contentious decision/policy/issue/subject She has some rather contentious views on education.Debate and discussion contentiousness
 
 
/-nəs/ noun [U]
Debate and discussion
(Definition of contentious adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“contentious” in other dictionaries

Word of the Day

come rain or shine

whatever happens

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More