noun
- a race, conflict, or other competition between rivals, as for a prize.
- struggle for victory or superiority.
- strife in argument; dispute; controversy: Their marriage was marred by perpetual contest.
verb (used with object)
- to struggle or fight for, as in battle.
- to argue against; dispute: to contest a controversial question; to contest a will.
- to call in question: They contested his right to speak.
- to contend for in rivalry.
verb (used without object)
- to dispute; contend; compete.
adjective
- not having been challenged, called into question, or disputed
noun (ˈkɒntɛst)
- a formal game or match in which two or more people, teams, etc, compete and attempt to win
- a struggle for victory between opposing forces or interests
verb (kənˈtɛst)
- (tr) to try to disprove; call in question
- (when intr, foll by with or against) to fight, dispute, or contend (with)contest an election
adj.1670s, from un- (1) “not” + contested. v.c.1600, from French contester “dispute, oppose,” from Middle French, from Latin contestari (litem) “to call to witness, bring action,” from com- “together” (see com-) + testari “to bear witness,” from testis “a witness,” (see testament). Calling witnesses as the first step in a legal combat. Related: Contestable; contested; contesting. n.1640s, from contest (v.).