disputed

[ dih-spyoo-tid ]

adjective

1. argued or debated about:

   Just when and where the religious practice of the “camp meeting” originated is a disputed question.

2. argued against; called into question:

   He stood by his widely disputed claim that margarine is better for you than butter.

3. quarreled or fought over; contested:

   As negotiations continue, the security situation in the disputed territories is tense and shows signs of escalating.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of dispute.

Other Words From

• un·dis·put·ed adjective
• un·dis·put·ed·ly adverb
• well-dis·put·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disputed¹

First recorded in 1605–15; dispute ( def ) + -ed ²( def ) for the adjective senses; dispute ( def ) + -ed ¹( def ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

University officials disputed the union’s allegations, saying in a statement that “we fundamentally disagree with AFSCME’s claims of bad faith bargaining and characterization of unacceptable bargaining proposals.”

From Los Angeles Times

He said the city’s funding withdrawal led him to believe the project was not financially viable, a claim the developers disputed.

From Los Angeles Times

He disputed the idea that jurors’ identities were meant to be kept secret, arguing Olmedo’s ruling only hid information contained in “the forms that the jurors fill out relating to their jury service.”

From Los Angeles Times

Police in Georgia have clashed with demonstrators in the centre of the capital Tbilisi protesting against last month's disputed election which they say was stolen by the government.

From BBC

This and other disputed works are reasonably ignored in the documentary, which already has a lot of ground to cover.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• debatable
• moot
• unchallenged
• undecided
• undetermined
• unnoticed
• unsettled