/ Dictionary / Index C contentious: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: con•ten•tious Pronunciation: (kun-ten'shus), [key] — adj. tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome: a contentious crew. causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy: contentious issues. pertaining to causes between contending parties. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: contentious (Thesaurus) contention contentive Related Content Daily Word Quiz: clairvoyant Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language