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contienda

contest, conflict

noun kohn-TYEN-dah Rare
People & Society Military

Origin: From Latin contendere (to strive, to compete).

Also means

struggle

Usage Note

Contienda is a formal or literary word for a contest, dispute, or armed conflict: contienda electoral ('electoral contest'), contienda bélica ('armed conflict'). In everyday speech conflicto, pelea, or disputa are preferred. It is related to the verb contender (to contend), which is itself somewhat literary.

Examples

"La contienda electoral fue muy reñida."

Natural Translation

The electoral contest was very hard-fought.

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