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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1984
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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:
On Dec. 7, 2023, Howard was involved in another incident: a verbal altercation with another coach, the law firm noted.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Organisers said an altercation developed after complaints by two councillors about a poster of the Reform leader.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Police say the brothers insulted a woman during an altercation over loud noise.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
Channel 9 and Endemol Shine Australia said Nield's conviction arose from a one-off altercation and there had been no repeat conduct in the 11 years since.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
“You were involved in a similar altercation on the night of January eighteenth, correct?”
From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone
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
Harteveldt said these close quarters often lead to altercations on flights.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
In 2022, there were 11 recorded cases of physical altercations between inmates, but in 2023 only two such cases were documented.
From BBC ● May 20, 2025
Just a long, poor-lighted platform with loud furious altercations in Arabic going on somewhere.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
Definitions 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.
