View synonyms for argument

argument

[ ahr-gyuh-muhnt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an oral disagreement; verbal opposition; contention; altercation:
a violent argument.
a discussion involving differing points of view; debate:
They were deeply involved in an argument about inflation.
a process of reasoning; series of reasons:
I couldn't follow his argument.
a statement, reason, or fact for or against a point:
This is a strong argument in favor of her theory.
an address or composition intended to convince or persuade; persuasive discourse.
subject matter; theme:
The central argument of his paper was presented clearly.
an abstract or summary of the major points in a work of prose or poetry, or of sections of such a work.
Mathematics.
1. an independent variable of a function.
2. Also called amplitude. the angle made by a given vector with the reference axis.
3. the angle corresponding to a point representing a given complex number in polar coordinates. Compare principal argument.
Computers. a variable in a program, to which a value will be assigned when the program is run: often given in parentheses following a function name and used to calculate the function.
Obsolete.
1. evidence or proof.
2. a matter of contention.

argument

/ ˈɑːɡjʊmənt /

noun

a quarrel; altercation
a discussion in which reasons are put forward in support of and against a proposition, proposal, or case; debate
the argument on birth control will never be concluded
sometimes plural a point or series of reasons presented to support or oppose a proposition
a summary of the plot or subject of a book, etc
logic
1. a process of deductive or inductive reasoning that purports to show its conclusion to be true
2. formally, a sequence of statements one of which is the conclusion and the remainder the premises
logic an obsolete name for the middle term of a syllogism
maths
1. an element to which an operation, function, predicate, etc, applies, esp the independent variable of a function
2. the amplitude of a complex number

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Other Words From

re·argu·ment noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of argument¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English (from Old French ), from Latin argūmentum; argue, -ment

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Idioms and Phrases

see under pick a quarrel .

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Synonym Study

Argument, controversy, dispute imply the expression of opinions for and against some idea. An argument usually arises from a disagreement between two people, each of whom advances facts supporting their own point of view. A controversy or a dispute may involve two or more people. A dispute is an oral contention, usually brief, and often of a heated, angry, or undignified character: a violent dispute over a purchase. A controversy is an oral or written expression of contrary opinions, and may be dignified and of some duration: a political controversy.

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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