A contention can have multiple meanings depending on the context:
- In a general sense, contention refers to a struggle, competition, or dispute between parties. This can manifest as a quarrel, argument, or controversy.
- In a competitive context, contention can describe the act of competing for a prize or profit.
- In academic writing, a contention is a concise statement that summarizes the main point of an essay, research paper, or other written work. It is also known as a thesis statement or main argument.
In the context of the question, the most relevant definition of contention is the first one, which refers to a point advanced or maintained in a debate or argument.