ar ‧ gu ‧ ment S1 W1 /ˈɑːɡjəmənt, ˈɑːɡjʊmənt $ ˈɑːr-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ arguable , ↑ argumentative ; verb : ↑ argue ; noun : ↑ argument ; adverb : ↑ arguably ]
1 . [countable] a situation in which two or more people disagree, often angrily
argument with
She had a big argument with her husband.
argument about/over
There have been a lot of arguments about who was responsible for the accident.
2 . [countable] a set of reasons that show that something is true or untrue, right or wrong etc:
We need to provide a convincing argument as to why the system should be changed.
argument for/against
a powerful argument against smoking
A good argument can be made for comparing the IT revolution with the invention of writing itself.
argument in favour of
the arguments in favour of banning tobacco advertising
argument that
the familiar argument that the costs outweigh the benefits
3 . [uncountable] when you disagree with something or question whether it is right
do something without (further) argument
Ian accepted the suggestion without argument.
for the sake of argument (=in order to discuss all the possibilities)
If, for the sake of argument, you aren’t offered the job, what will you do?
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have an argument
I could hear my parents having an argument downstairs.
▪ get into an argument/become involved in an argument
She didn’t want to get into another argument about money.
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I left to avoid becoming involved in an argument.
▪ start/cause an argument
He was deliberately trying to start an argument.
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Money often causes arguments.
▪ avoid an argument
I was anxious to avoid an argument.
▪ win/lose an argument
The party hopes to win the argument about how to reform the health system.
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The first one who resorts to violence is usually the one who’s lost the argument.
▪ an argument breaks out (=it starts)
The men were drunk and an argument soon broke out.
▪ an argument erupts (=a big argument suddenly starts)
A bitter argument erupted between the brothers over who should inherit the money.
■ adjectives
▪ a big/huge/massive argument
There was a big argument about whether we should move to a new house.
▪ a heated argument (=involving very strong feelings)
Someone was having a heated argument with a police officer.
▪ a bitter argument
There are bitter arguments about whether he was a hero or a war criminal.
▪ a furious/fierce argument
As soon as she had gone a furious argument broke out.
▪ a violent argument
The singer was hurt in a violent argument with her husband.
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THESAURUS
▪ argument a situation in which people speak angrily to each other because they disagree about something:
an argument between two drivers over who had right of way
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A 29-year-old man was shot and killed today after an argument over a gambling debt.
▪ row British English , fight especially American English a loud angry argument with someone, especially your boyfriend, girlfriend, or someone in your family. Row is also used about a serious disagreement between politicians about important public issues:
There were always fights between my parents.
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the continuing row over tax increases
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A few months ago they had a big row, and Steve drove off and spent the weekend in London.
▪ disagreement a situation in which people disagree with each other, but without shouting or getting angry:
There were the occasional disagreements about money, but mostly we got on well.
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Ginny had left the company after a disagreement with her boss.
▪ quarrel especially British English an argument, especially one in which people get angry and that lasts a long time. Quarrel sounds more formal and more serious than argument or row :
a bitter family quarrel
▪ feud /fjuːd/ a very bitter argument between two groups, especially families, which lasts for many years and causes people to hate each other:
The feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys raged for 20 years.
▪ dispute a public or legal argument about something, especially one which continues for a long time:
Morris has been involved in a long legal dispute with his publisher.
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The settlement will resolve a long-running dispute over the country’s nuclear program.
▪ war/battle of words an argument in which two people or groups criticize each other continuously in public:
The war of words over construction delays at the airport has erupted again.
▪ bust-up British English informal a very bad argument, especially one in which people decide to separate from each other:
He had a bust-up with the team manager.
▪ shouting match an angry argument in which people shout at each other:
He got into a shouting match with another driver.
▪ slanging match British English informal an argument in which people insult each other:
He was sacked after a slanging match with a colleague.
■ an argument that is not very serious
▪ squabble /ˈskwɒb ə l $ ˈskwɑː-/ an argument about something that is not important:
There were the usual squabbles between brothers and sisters.
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Voters are tired of petty squabbles between party leaders.
▪ tiff informal an argument that is not very serious, between people who are in love:
Gary had a bit of a tiff with his girlfriend.
▪ misunderstanding a slight argument – a rather formal word which is often used humorously:
There was a slight misunderstanding over the bill, but everything’s been sorted out now.
▪ skirmish a short argument, especially between politicians or sports opponents:
Evans and O'Brien had several political skirmishes.