Altercation

Definition: Altercation

Altercation

Noun

1. Noisy quarrel.

Date "altercation" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1380. (references)

Etymology: Altercation \Al`ter*ca"tion\, noun. [French expression altercation, from the Latin expression altercatio.]. (Websters 1913)

Synonyms: Altercation

Synonyms: affray (n), fracas (n). (additional references)

Context	Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).
Discord	Quarrel, dispute, tiff, tracasserie, squabble, altercation, barney, demel_, snarl, spat, towrow, words, high words; wrangling; Verb: jangle, brabble, cross questions and crooked answers, snip-snap; family jars.
Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

Crosswords: Altercation

English words defined with "altercation": batrachomyomachia ♦ Punch and Judy. (references)

Non-English Usage: "Altercation" is also a word in the following language with English translations in parentheses.

French (altercation, quarrel, wrangle).

Domain

Usage

Movie/TV Titles

Une altercation au café (1896)

A Minor Altercation (1977)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Thumbnail	Description & Credit
	Saturday afternoon outside a movie house in Nashville, Tennessee - altercation as Negro tries to attend] / Henri Cartier-Bresson, Magnum Photos, Inc., New York, N.Y.Credit: Library of Congress.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Subject	Topic	Quote
Civil Liberties	Tunisia	El-Taief was charged with insulting a police officer after a street altercation with an officer after El-Taief returned to his automobile and found that it had been vandalized. (references)
	Honduras	Television reporter Allan Montenegro is suing the Security Ministry over the loss of an eye in an unprovoked altercation with a police officer in 2000. No action has been taken in the 2000 drive-by shooting of Radio Progreso news director Julio Cesar Pineda Alvarado, who suffered a head wound in the attack. (references)
Human Rights	Tanzania	The three were arrested as they accompanied CUF Secretary General Seif Shariff Hamad to court, where Hamad was appearing on charges following an altercation with police in 2000. On October 15, all charges against persons arrested in connection with the January demonstrations were dropped and all detainees were released as part of the October 10 reconciliation agreement between the CCM and the CUF, which called for the release of all persons in custody who were associated with the January 27 events. (references)
Minorities	Bulgaria	In November 2000, in Botevgrad, a neighbor shot and injured Asen Sashev, a 14-year-old Roma youth during an altercation. (references)
Political Rights	Armenia	The Achapniak by-election subsequently was held again--the two candidates involved in the altercation were removed from the ballot--and took place without incident. (references)
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

"Altercation" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Altercation" is used about 59 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)

Parts of Speech	Percent	Usage per 100 Million Words	Rank in English
Noun (singular)	100%	59	44,010

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.

Language		Translations for "altercation"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.
Albanian		zënkë me fjalë, grindje (bickering, blowup, bobbery, brawl, breach, breeze, broil, contention, contest, disagreement, discord, disputation, dispute, dissension, feud, fight, fray, friction, jar, quarrel, squabble, strife, variance, wrangle). (various references)

Arabic		‏مماحكة (quarrel), ‏مهاترة (quarrel, wrangle), ‏مشادة (brabble, squabble, wrangle), ‏جدال (argument, argute, controversy, debate, dispute), ‏شجار (affray, bicker, brawl, breeze, broil, controversy, fight, fracas, melee, miff, muss, quarrel, row, rowdiness, ruck, ruction, rumble, rumpus, scrap, scuffle, set to, shindy, slugfest, squabble, squall, tiff). (various references)

Bulgarian		спор (argument, argumentation, contention, contest, contestation, controversy, difference, ding-dong, disputation, dispute, dissension, fight, jar, polemic, rift, run in, strife, variance, velitation, word, words), караница (brabble, brawl, hassle, jar, rhubarb, wrangle), кавга (broil, disagreement, doing, dustup, hassle, jangle, odds, quarrel, row, ruffle, rumpus, run in, scrape, set to, shindig, shindy, strife, warm words, wrangle), препирня (dissension, ruckus, ruction, spar, variance, wrangle). (various references)

Czech		vada (blemish, defect, failing, fault, hole, imperfection, inadequacy, vice), hádka (argument, brawl, brush, bust up, ding-dong, dispute, fight, hassle, quarrel, row, scrap, set to, skirmish, squabble, strife, wrangle). (various references)

Finnish		kiivas sananvaihto, jupakka (squabble). (various references)

French		altercation. (various references)

German		Zank (Bicker, dispute, fighting, quarrel, row, squabble, wrangle). (various references)

Greek		καυγάσ (brawl, bust up, contention, scramble, scuffle, squabble, wrangle), φιλονικία (brawl, broil, contention, disputation, fray, jangle, quarrel, row, ruckus, ruction, scrap, spat, squabble, wrangle). (various references)

Hebrew		מחלוקת (contention, controversy, disagreement, discord, disputation, dispute, dissension, division, polemics, quarrel, variance), מ�"ון (contention, dispute, quarrel, strife), וכוח (argument, argumentation, contention, controversy, debate, discussion, disputation, moot, polemic), קטט�" (affray, brawl, fight, fray, odds, quarrel, squabble, strife), �"ת� צחות (clash, collision, conflict, fray), סכסוך (argument, conflict, dispute, feud, quarrel, strife). (various references)

Hungarian		veszekedés (bickering, blow up, brawl, broil, dispute, flare-up, hassle, jangle, jarring, quarrel, run-in, tiff, traverse, unpleasantness), pörlekedés (bickering, broil, jangle, nagging, squabble). (various references)

Italian		alterco (contention, hassle, quarrel, wrangle), lite (argument, lawsuit, legal dispute, litigation, quarrel, tilt, wrangle). (various references)

Manx		troiddey (altercate, berate, bicker, chide, chiding, dress down, dressing down, jaw, jaw scolding, mud-slinging, nag, nagging, objurgate, objurgation, quarrel, quarrelling, rate, row; squabbling, scold, scolding, set to, squabble, telling off, wigging), streeu (altercate; striving, conflict, contend, contention, contest, cope, disagree, discord, disputation, encounter, endeavour, flare up, scuffle, squabble, strife, strive, variance). (various references)

Pig Latin		altercationay

Portuguese		altercação (gad-fly, quarrel, wrangle). (various references)

Romanian		altercaţie (quarrel, wrangle), zarvã (ado, affray, bobbery, brawling, bustle, clutter, din, dispute, dust, fuss, hubbub, kerfuffle, noise, pother, racket, riot, row, rumpus, scandal, to-do, tumult, turmoil, uproar), discuţie (argument, argumentation, canvass, confabulation, conversation, counsel, debate, dialogue, discourse, discussion, dispute, quarrel, reasoning, row, splutter, talk), ceartã (Bicker, bobbery, brawl, breeze, broil, conflict, contention, controversy, discord, discussion, dispute, dissension, friction, jangle, loggerhead, misunderstanding, quarrel, row, scrap, set to, squabble, squall, Stour, strife, tussle, wrangle). (various references)

Russian		перебранка (dustup, dust-up, hassle, high words, slanging match, squabble). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian		svađa (affray, brawl, contention, disagreement, hassle, odds, quarrel, rhubarb, spat, squabble), prepirka (contention, set to, squabble, tilt, wrangle). (various references)

Spanish		altercado (disagreement, dispute, haggle). (various references)

Swedish		gräl (argument, Barney, brabble, brawl, dust-up, quarrel, row, run in, scolding, scrap, set to, slanging match, tangle, tiff, wrangle). (various references)

Turkish		atışma (battle of words, bickering, duet, quarrel, shooting match, spat, tiff), ağız kavgası (battle of words, bust up, quarrel, row, slanging match, spar, spat, squabble, words, wordy warfare), tartışma (argument, argumentation, bickering, brawl, breeze, broil, bust up, contention, contest, contestation, controversy, cross talk, debate, disagreement, discussion, disputation, dispute, hassle, jangle, moot, parley, quarrel, rap, row, set to, shooting match, spar, sparring, teach-in, wordy warfare, wrangle), münakaşa (argument, argumentation, bickering, disputation, dispute, hassle, spat). (various references)

Turkmen		tersleюik.Turkmen/English Dictionary 74. (various references)

Ukranian		сварка (broil, controversy, embroilment, jangle, muss, odds, quarrel, shindy, squabble, upset), сперечання (bickering, wrangle), лайка (abuse, barge, chevrette, curse, damn, dog-skin, hassle, kid-skin, oath, ordure, scold, swear word, vituperation). (various references)

Vietnamese		cuộc cãi nhau cuộc cãi lộn, cuộc đấu khẩu. (various references)

Welsh		ymryson (affray, broil, contend, contention, rivalry, strife, strive), ffrae (brawl, quarrel). (various references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

Language	Period	Translations
Latin	500 BCE-Modern	iurgium. (various references)
Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Derivations
	Words beginning with "altercation": altercations. (additional references)
Misspellings
	"Altercation" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: altacation, altercatiin, alterration, altrcation, malversation. (additional references)
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

# of Phoneme Matches	Pronunciation	Word(s) rhyming with "altercation" (pronounced Ä'lterkā"shun)
6	-er k ā" sh u n	bifurcation.
5	-k ā" sh u n	abdication, acidification, adjudication, advocation, allocation, amplification, application, authentication, avocation, certification, clarification, classification, codification, communication, complication, confiscation, convocation, decertification, dedication, deification, demarcation, desiccation, detoxication, detoxification, disembarkation, dislocation, disqualification, diversification, domestication, duplication, echolocation, edification, education, electrification, embarkation, equivocation, eradication, evocation, excommunication, explication, fabrication, falsification, fortification, gasification, gentrification, glorification, gratification, identification, implication, indemnification, indication, intensification, intoxication, invocation, justification, location, lubrication, magnification, medication, misallocation, misapplication, miscommunication, misidentification, modification, multiplication, mummification, notification, nullification, obfuscation, ossification, pacification, personification, pontification, prefabrication, prognostication, provocation, publication, purification, qualification, quantification, ramification, ratification, reallocation, recertification, reclassification, rectification, rededication, relocation, replication, reunification, revocation, sanctification, saponification, simplification, sophistication, specification, suffocation, syndication, telecommunication, unification, vacation, verification, vilification, vindication, vocation.
4	-ā" sh u n	abbreviation, aberration, abomination, abrogation, acceleration, acclimation, accommodation, accreditation, accumulation, accusation, activation, adaptation, administration, admiration, adoration, adulation, affectation, affiliation, affirmation, agglomeration, aggravation, agitation, alienation, allegation, alleviation, alphabetization, alteration, amalgamation, amelioration, amortization, amputation, animation, annexation, annihilation, annotation, anticipation, antidiscrimination, appellation, appreciation, approbation, appropriation, approximation, arbitration, argumentation, articulation, aspiration, assassination, assimilation, association, augmentation, authorization, automation, aviation, balkanization, calculation, calibration, cancellation, cannibalization, capitalization, capitulation, carnation, castration, categorization, causation, celebration, centralization, cessation, cetacean, characterization, citation, civilization, coagulation, cogeneration, cogitation, cohabitation, collaboration, collectivization, colonization, coloration, colorization, combination, commemoration, commendation, commercialization, communization, compensation, compilation, computation, computerization, concatenation, concentration, conciliation, condemnation, condensation, confabulation, confederation, configuration, confirmation, conflagration, confrontation, conglomeration, congratulation, congregation, conjugation, connotation, consecration, conservation, consideration, consolation, consolidation, constellation, consternation, constipation, consultation, consummation, contamination, contemplation, continuation, conversation, cooperation, coordination, coronation, corporation, correlation, corroboration, creation, cremation, criminalization, crustacean, culmination, cultivation, dalmatian, damnation, decaffeination, decapitation, deceleration, decentralization, declaration, decontamination, decoration, decriminalization, defamation, deflation, deforestation, deformation, degeneration, degradation, dehumanization, dehydration, deinstitutionalization, delegation, deliberation, delineation, demilitarization, demobilization, democratization, demodulation, demonization, demonstration, demoralization, denationalization, denomination, denuclearization, denunciation, depopulation, deportation, depravation, depreciation, depredation, deprivation, deregulation, derivation, desalination, desalinization, desecration, desegregation, designation, desolation, desperation, destabilization, destination, determination, detonation, devaluation, devastation, deviation, dictation, differentiation, dilatation, dilation, discoloration, discontinuation, discrimination, disinclination, disinflation, disinformation, disintegration, disorganization, disorientation, dispensation, disputation, dissemination, dissertation, dissipation, dissociation, distillation, divination, documentation, domination, donation, dramatization, duration, ejaculation, elaboration, elation, elevation, elimination, elongation, emanation, emancipation, emigration, emulation, enumeration, equalization, equitation, escalation, estimation, evacuation, evaluation, evaporation, exacerbation, exaggeration, examination, exasperation, excavation, excitation, exclamation, exfoliation, exhalation, exhilaration, exhortation, exhumation, exoneration, expatriation, expectation, experimentation, expiration, explanation, exploitation, exploration, expropriation, extermination, extrapolation, facilitation, fascination, federation, fermentation, fertilization, fibrillation, figuration, filtration, fixation, flirtation, flotation, fluctuation, fluoridation, foliation, formation, formulation, foundation, fragmentation, frustration, fumigation, gastrulation, generalization, generation, germination, gestation, glaciation, globalization, gradation, graduation, granulation, gravitation, gyration, habitation, hallucination, harmonization, hesitation, hibernation, hospitalization, humiliation, hybridization, hydration, hydrogenation, hyperinflation, illumination, illustration, imagination, imitation, immigration, immunization, impersonation, implantation, implementation, importation, impregnation, improvisation, imputation, inactivation, inauguration, incantation, incapacitation, incarceration, incarnation, inclination, incoordination, incorporation, incrimination, incrustation, incubation, indentation, indexation, indignation, indoctrination, industrialization, infatuation, infestation, infiltration, inflammation, inflation, information, inhabitation, inhalation, initiation, innovation, inoculation, insemination, insinuation, inspiration, installation, instigation, institutionalization, instrumentation, insubordination, insulation, integration, internationalization, interpretation, interrogation, intimation, intimidation, intonation, inundation, invalidation, investigation, invitation, ionization, irradiation, irrigation, irritation, isolation, jubilation, laceration, lactation, legalization, legislation, levitation, liberalization, liberation, libration, ligation, limitation, liquidation, litigation, localization, machination, magnetization, malformation, manifestation, manipulation, marginalization, masturbation, maturation, maximization, mechanization, mediation, meditation, menstruation, migration, mineralization, miniaturization, ministration, misappropriation, miscalculation, mischaracterization, miscreation, misinformation, misinterpretation, misrepresentation, mitigation, mobilization, moderation, modernization, modulation, molestation, monopolization, motivation, mutation, mutilation, narration, nation, nationalization, naturalization, navigation, negation, negotiation, neutralization, nitration, nomination, nondiscrimination, nonproliferation, normalization, notation, nucleation, obligation, observation, occupation, operation, optimization, oration, orchestration, ordination, organisation, organization, orientation, origination, ornamentation, oscillation, ostentation, ovation, overpopulation, overregulation, overvaluation, ovulation, oxidation, pagination, palpitation, participation, pasteurization, penetration, perforation, permutation, perpetuation, personalization, perspiration, perturbation, pigmentation, plantation, polarization, politicization, pollination, popularization, population, precipitation, predestination, premeditation, preoccupation, preparation, presentation, preservation, pressurization, privation, privatization, probation, proclamation, procrastination, procreation, profanation, proliferation, pronunciation, propagation, proration, prostration, protestation, punctuation, quotation, radiation, radicalization, rationalization, reaffirmation, realization, reauthorization, recalculation, recantation, recapitalization, recitation, reclamation, recommendation, reconciliation, reconfiguration, reconfirmation, reconsideration, recreation, recrimination, recuperation, redecoration, reevaluation, reexamination, reflation, reforestation, reformation, refrigeration, refutation, regeneration, regimentation, registration, regulation, rehabilitation, rehydration, reincarnation, reincorporation, reinterpretation, reinvigoration, reiteration, rejuvenation, relation, relaxation, remediation, remuneration, renationalization, renegotiation, renomination, renovation, renunciation, reorganization, reparation, repatriation, representation, repudiation, reputation, reregulation, reservation, resignation, respiration, restoration, resuscitation, retaliation, retardation, revaluation, revelation, reverberation, revitalization, rotation, rumination, salvation, sanitation, saturation, securitization, sedation, sedimentation, segmentation, segregation, sensation, separation, sequestration, simulation, situation, socialization, solicitation, specialization, speculation, stabilization, stagflation, stagnation, standardization, starvation, station, sterilization, stimulation, stipulation, strangulation, subluxation, subordination, subsidization, substantiation, suburbanization, summation, superstation, tabulation, taxation, temptation, termination, titillation, toleration, transformation, transillumination, translation, transplantation, transportation, trepidation, triangulation, tribulation, undervaluation, unionization, urbanization, usurpation, utilization, vaccination, vacillation, validation, valuation, vaporization, variation, vegetation, ventilation, vibration, victimization, violation, visitation, visualization, vulgarization, westernization.
3	-sh u n	abduction, abolition, abortion, absolution, absorption, abstraction, academician, accession, accretion, acquisition, action, addiction, addition, admission, admonition, adoption, advection, affection, affliction, aggression, alliteration, alternation, ambition, ammunition, antiabortion, anticorruption, apparition, apportion, apprehension, ascension, ashen, assertion, assumption, attention, attraction, attribution, attrition, auction, audition, beautician, benediction, brutalization, caption, carburetion, caution, circulation, circumspection, clinician, coalition, coercion, cognition, collection, commission, commotion, compassion, competition, completion, complexion, composition, comprehension, compression, compulsion, compunction, conception, conceptualization, concession, concoction, concussion, condescension, condition, conduction, confection, confession, conjunction, connection, conniption, conscription, constitution, constriction, construction, consumption, contention, contortion, contraception, contraction, contradiction, contraption, contribution, contrition, convection, convention, conviction, convolution, convulsion, correction, corruption, counterrevolution, crucifixion, cushion, deception, decimation, decommission, decomposition, decompression, deconstruction, deduction, defection, definition, deletion, demolition, demotion, dentition, depiction, depletion, deposition, depression, dereliction, description, desertion, destitution, destruction, detection, detention, deterioration, devolution, devotion, diction, dietitian, diffraction, digression, dilution, dimension, diminution, direction, disaffection, disconnection, discretion, discussion, disinfection, disposition, disruption, dissatisfaction, dissection, dissension, dissolution, distinction, distortion, distraction, distribution, dysfunction, edition, egyptian, ejection, election, electrician, electrocution, elocution, emission, emotion, emulsion, encryption, erection, erudition, eruption, eviction, evolution, exaction, exception, excoriation, excretion, execution, exemption, exertion, exhibition, expansion, expedition, exposition, expression, expulsion, extension, extinction, extortion, extraction, extradition, faction, fashion, fiction, fission, flexion, formalization, fraction, freshen, friction, fruition, function, gentian, geriatrician, gumption, hessian, homogenization, hypertension, hypotension, ignition, impassion, imperfection, imposition, impression, inaction, inception, incineration, indiscretion, induction, infarction, infection, inflection, infliction, infraction, inhibition, injection, injunction, inquisition, inscription, insertion, inspection, institution, instruction, insurrection, interaction, interception, intercession, interconnection, interdiction, interjection, intermission, interruption, intersection, introduction, introspection, intuition, invention, junction, jurisdiction, juxtaposition, lilliputian, liposuction, liquefaction, locomotion, logician, lotion, magician, malfunction, malnutrition, mansion, martian, mathematician, mention, midsection, misapprehension, misconception, misimpression, misperception, mission, mortician, motion, munition, musician, nonaggression, nonfiction, nonprescription, notion, nutrition, objection, obsession, obstetrician, obstruction, ocean, omission, opposition, oppression, optician, option, overconsumption, overexpansion, overproduction, overprotection, overreaction, oversimplification, partition, passion, patrician, pediatrician, pension, perception, percussion, perfection, permission, persecution, petition, physician, politician, pollution, portion, position, possession, potion, precaution, precession, preconception, precondition, prediction, predilection, predisposition, preelection, preemption, preignition, premonition, prescription, presumption, presupposition, pretension, prevention, procession, production, profession, progression, prohibition, projection, promotion, proportion, proposition, propulsion, proscription, prosecution, prostitution, protection, ration, reaction, reassertion, reception, recession, recognition, recollection, recondition, reconstruction, redefinition, redemption, redirection, redistribution, reduction, reeducation, reelection, reflection, regression, reimposition, reinspection, reintegration, reintroduction, reinvention, rejection, remission, rendition, repercussion, repetition, reposition, repossession, repression, reproduction, requisition, resolution, restitution, restriction, resumption, resurrection, retention, retraction, retransmission, retribution, revolution, revulsion, rhetorician, sanction, satisfaction, secession, secretion, section, sedition, seduction, selection, session, solution, statistician, submission, subscription, subsection, substation, substitution, subtraction, succession, suction, superstition, supposition, suppression, suspension, suspicion, syncopation, tactician, technician, tension, theoretician, titian, traction, tradition, transaction, transcription, transection, transgression, transition, transmission, tuition, venetian, volition, workstation.
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams
	Words within the letters "a-a-c-e-i-l-n-o-r-t-t"
	-1 letter: alteration, laceration, tractional.
	-2 letters: aleatoric, alienator, cantorial, carnotite, lactation, natrolite, rationale.
	-3 letters: acrolein, aeration, alterant, analcite, anoretic, attainer, carinate, cilantro, clarinet, coattail, colinear, contrail, contrite, craniate, creation, erotical, interact, laitance, loricate, notarial, octantal, oriental, raincoat, rational, reactant, reaction, reattain, relation, taconite, tailcoat, tailrace, tantalic, tarletan, tolerant, tractile, traction, trotline.
	-4 letters: acarine, acerola, aconite, actinal.
	Words containing the letters "a-a-c-e-i-l-n-o-r-t-t"
	+1 letter: altercations, intercoastal.
	+2 letters: cartelization, interactional, intercalation, nontheatrical.
	+3 letters: cartelizations, centralization, contradictable, intercalations, recapitulation.
	+4 letters: antitheoretical, autocorrelation, centralizations, connaturalities, dictatorialness, enterobacterial, malpractitioner, nonmatriculated, orchestrational, recapitulations.
	+5 letters: anticonglomerate, atrioventricular, autocorrelations, compartmentalise, compartmentalize, decentralization, intercalibration, intracutaneously, malpractitioners, nonmaterialistic, operationalistic, overarticulating, recapitalization, recentralization, transcontinental.
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.