altercation
Americannoun
-
altercations
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of altercation
1350–1400; Middle English altercacioun < Latin altercātiōn- (stem of altercātiō ). See altercate, -ion
Explanation
Altercation is a nicer word for "quarrel," which is a nicer word for "fight." Fight is a simple, effective one-syllable word, while quarrel is a softer, two-syllable word, and altercation is a very civilized-sounding four-syllable word for the same uncivilized thing: a noisy argument between angry people. Someone who gets a black eye fighting for a parking spot might — after cooling down — describe the incident as an altercation rather than as a knock-down, drag-out brawl.
Vocabulary lists containing altercation
To Kill a Mockingbird
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Grade 9, List 3
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Ghost
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They have been in custody since 23 January, when they were arrested in a separate case involving an alleged altercation outside the Islamabad High Court.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
After the altercation, West Hollywood city officials were quick to paint Niemi as the aggressor and urged Los Angeles County Dist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard the altercation came to light days later, after a video was published on Wales Online, filmed by a witness at a Texaco garage in the Pentwyn area of Cardiff.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
But videos that have circulated widely online show an altercation Wednesday in a classroom between two students.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
This last altercation has given Enobaria and Gloss time to reach the Cornucopia.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
The former 87-cap fly-half described the game as one of the "big rivalries" for his side, but not because of any off-field altercations.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Some arguments and other altercations broke out in the stands as well as outside the stadium, according to footage posted on social media.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
As a result, the public has been kept from one of the chief ways it has to hold officers involved in such altercations accountable: their identity.
From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2026
Renee Nicole Good, a mother of a six year old, showed up with her wife and dog to film altercations between officers and community members.
From Slate ● Jan. 8, 2026
Just a long, poor-lighted platform with loud furious altercations in Arabic going on somewhere.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
