Definition of contention

The word "contention" has a range of meanings in English. Because Latter-day Saints typically focus on the teachings in the Book of Mormon, we can start with the 1828 Webster's Dictionary, which focuses on a strife connotation.

https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/contention

CONTENTION, noun [Latin See Contend.]

1. Strife; struggle; a violent effort to obtain something, or to resist a person, claim or injury; contest; quarrel.

Multitudes lost their lives in a tumult raised by contention among the partizans of the several colors.

2. Strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy.

Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law. Titus 3:9.

A fools lips enter into contention Proverbs 18:6.

3. Strife or endeavor to excel; emulation.

4. Eagerness; zeal; ardor; vehemence of endeavor.

This is an end worthy of our utmost contention to obtain.

The Book of Mormon most likely applies these definitions when it uses the term in the text.

Modern dictionaries seem to expand the meaning into less confrontational nuances, such as equating a "contention" with a mere "assertion put forward in argument."

This list draws on several dictionaries to flesh out the alternatives.

https://www.wordnik.com/words/contention

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun The act or an instance of striving in controversy or debate. synonym: conflict.
• noun A striving to win in competition; rivalry.
• noun An assertion put forward in argument.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun A violent effort to obtain something, or to resist physical force, whether an assault or bodily opposition; physical contest; struggle; strife.
• noun Strife in words or debate; wrangling; angry contest; quarrel; controversy; litigation.
• noun Strife or endeavor to excel; competition; emulation.
• noun Effort; struggle; vehement endeavor.
• noun That which is affirmed or contended for; an argument or a statement in support of a point or proposition; a main point in controversy.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun A violent effort or struggle to obtain, or to resist, something; contest; strife.
• noun Strife in words; controversy; altercation; quarrel; dispute.
• noun Vehemence of endeavor; eagerness; ardor; zeal.
• noun A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion or strife; a position taken or contended for.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun struggle, contest, strife, argument, debate
• noun A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion of strife; a position taken or contended for.
• noun computing, telecommunications Competition by parts of a system or its users for a limited resource.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun a point asserted as part of an argument
• noun a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement
• noun the act of competing as for profit or a prize

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