What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
argument
Example
They had a loud argument about politics at the dinner table. [argument: noun]
Example
She argued that the new policy would have negative consequences. [argued: past tense verb]
dispute
Example
The neighbors are in a dispute over the property boundary. [dispute: noun]
Example
They disputed the accuracy of the survey results. [disputed: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Argument is more commonly used than dispute in everyday language. Argument is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while dispute is less common and tends to be used in more formal or legal settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between argument and dispute?
While argument is generally associated with a more informal tone, dispute is often used in formal or legal contexts. However, both words can be used in various formality levels depending on the situation.
