/ kənˈtenʃəs; NAmE / adjective ( formal )
1.
likely to cause disagreement between people :
a contentious issue / topic / subject
Both views are highly contentious.
OPP uncontentious
2.
liking to argue; involving a lot of arguing :
a contentious meeting
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French contentieux , from Latin contentiosus , from content- striven, from the verb contendere .