disputed

American  

[dih-spyoo-tid] / dɪˈspyu tɪd /

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.

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• undisputed adjective
• undisputedly adverb
• well-disputed adjective

Etymology

Origin of disputed

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

In the legal battle now before the court, the key disputed phrase is “subject to the jurisdiction.”

From Los Angeles Times

Exactly how much is there is unknown — and often disputed — but Interlune said the moon has more than 1 million metric tons of helium-3.

From MarketWatch

Elsewhere, Nigeria's electoral commission has introduced reforms aimed at addressing concerns from the disputed 2023 vote.

From BBC

FC Nantes has disputed "the existence of any wrongdoing" on its part, as well as Cardiff's outlined damages.

From BBC

The legal authority of Hegseth’s post was disputed in court on Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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