Contesting

How to spell contesting

10 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce contesting

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does contesting mean?

1. verbFormally challenging or disputing the validity of something, such as a claim, ruling, or result.
2. verbTaking part in a competition or struggle to win something.

Contesting in a sentence

• The family spent two years contesting the disputed will in court.

• Three drivers are contesting the championship in the final race.

• She is contesting the parking fine because the signs were unclear.

• Both candidates are contesting the same seat in the local election.

Where does contesting come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word traces back to the Latin verb contestari, which literally meant 'to call to witness' as a legal action was begun, built from con- 'together' and testari 'to bear witness', itself from testis, meaning 'a witness'. In Roman courtroom practice a lawsuit was formally opened by both parties calling their witnesses, so the idea of two sides facing off was baked into the word from the start. English took it through Old French conteste in the late 1500s, where the sense had broadened from the legal arena to any struggle or dispute. From 'to fight a legal case' it slid easily into 'to compete for' and 'to challenge or call into question'. The buried root testis also surfaces in 'testify', 'testament', and 'protest', and remembering that hidden 'test' in the middle is the surest way to keep the spelling straight.

How the word is built

• con- (together)
• test (from Latin testis: a witness)
• -ing (present participle)