contestable

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•test /n. ˈkɑntɛst; v. kənˈtɛst/   n. [countable]

1. • a competition between rivals:
     She won the beauty contest.
   • a struggle for victory:
     a bitter contest of wills.

v. [~ + object]

2. to struggle or fight for, as in battle, etc.:
   They were contesting the 10th district Congressional seat.
3. to argue against;
   dispute:
   to contest a will.
4. to object to;
   challenge:
   They contested his right to speak.

con•test•a•ble, adj. 
con•test•a•ble•ness, n. [uncountable]
con•test•a•bly, adv. 
con•test•er, n. [countable] See -test-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•test  (n. kon′test;v. kən test′), n. 

1. a race, conflict, or other competition between rivals, as for a prize.
2. struggle for victory or superiority.
3. strife in argument;
   dispute;
   controversy:
   Their marriage was marred by perpetual contest.

v.t. 

4. to struggle or fight for, as in battle.
5. to argue against;
   dispute:
   to contest a controversial question; to contest a will.
6. to call in question:
   They contested his right to speak.
7. to contend for in rivalry.

v.i. 

8. to dispute;
   contend;
   compete.

• French conteste
• Latin contestāri to call to witness (in a lawsuit), equivalent. to con- con- + testārī to testify, derivative of testis witness; (noun, nominal) derivative of the verb, verbal, or
• (verb, verbal) 1595–1605

con•test′a•ble, adj. 
con•test′a•ble•ness, n. 
con•test′a•bly, adv. 
con•test′er, n. 
con•test′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. contention, rivalry, match, tournament, tourney, game.
• 2. battle, encounter. See fight. 
• 3. debate, polemic, altercation.
• 4. See compete. 
• 5. controvert, oppose.
• 6. challenge.
• 7. strive, compete, vie.