- [countable, uncountable] a conversation or discussion in which two or more people disagree, often angrily
- to win/lose an argument
- After some heated argument a decision was finally taken.
- argument with somebody She got into an argument with the teacher.
- argument about/over something He was killed during a violent argument over money.
- argument with somebody about/over something We had an argument with the waiter about the bill.
- argument between A and B Jack was always the one who settled arguments between us.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumenta2, Feelingsa2- He felt offended by the suggestion, and a violent argument ensued.
- I don't want to get into an argument with her.
- I had a big argument with my mother this morning.
- I was determined to win the argument.
- The argument over decentralization will probably continue forever.
- We had an argument about what we should buy.
- He was able to see both sides of the argument.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bitter
- heated
- violent
- …
- become involved in
- get into
- get involved in
- …
- arise
- break out
- develop
- …
- argument about
- argument between
- argument over
- …
- brook no argument
- [countable] a reason or set of reasons that somebody uses to show that something is true or correct
- a strong/convincing/compelling argument
- to advance/present an argument
- Having heard both sides of the argument, the court will make a decision.
- Her main argument was a moral one.
- argument for/against something There are strong arguments for and against euthanasia.
- The author makes a compelling argument for the use of hydrogen as a fuel.
- argument in favour of something What are the arguments in favour of change?
- argument that… The judge rejected the defence argument that the evidence was too old to be relevant.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb1, Languageb1- His argument was that public spending must be reduced.
- the language used to frame the legal arguments
- There is a very good argument for increasing spending on education.
- the arguments against increasing taxes
- This argument is developed further in the next chapter.
- Their argument sounds plausible but is it really valid?
- The government's argument is always based on how much such a plan would cost.
- The company dismissed his arguments as alarmist.
- She tried to think how to refute the argument on moral grounds.
- I'll briefly address each argument.
- I can see no flaw in your argument.
- He put forward some very convincing arguments.
- Do you have any evidence to support your argument?
- Centralized government, so the argument goes, is too far removed from the problems of ordinary citizens.
- As I see it, his argument boils down to a combination of two basic points.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- basic
- general
- central
- …
- advance
- deploy
- make
- …
- be based on something
- depend on something
- rely on something
- …
- argument against
- argument concerning
- argument for
- …
- all sides of an argument
- both sides of an argument
- a flaw in the argument
- …
- [uncountable] argument (about something) the act of disagreeing in a conversation or discussion using a reason or set of reasons
- Let's assume for the sake of argument (= in order to discuss the problem) that we can't start till March.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb2, Languageb2- There is room for argument about precise figures.
- I can see a few problems with this line of argument.
- The proposals were accepted without further argument.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bitter
- heated
- violent
- …
- become involved in
- get into
- get involved in
- …
- arise
- break out
- develop
- …
- argument about
- argument between
- argument over
- …
- brook no argument
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘process of reasoning’): via Old French from Latin argumentum, from arguere ‘make clear, prove, accuse’.
Check pronunciation:
argument