WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ˈbone of conˈten•tion, n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Informal. a subject that is argued about;
a point of dispute:That type of test has been a bone of contention for years.
bone′ of conten′tion,
- a subject, cause, or focal point of a dispute:The terms of the old man's will were a bone of contention to his survivors.
- 1705–15
'bone of contention' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):