Argument Definition

argument

English

Etymology

From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French, from Latin argumentum (“proof, evidence, token, subject, contents”), from arguere (“to prove, argue”); see argue.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈɑːɡjʊmənt/, SAMPA: /"A:gjUm@nt/
• (US) IPA: /ˈɑɹɡjumənt/, SAMPA: /"Ar\gjum@nt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

argument (plural arguments)

1. A fact or statement used to support a proposition; a reason.
2. A verbal dispute; a quarrel.
3. A process of reasoning.
4. (philosophy, logic) A series of statements organized so that the final statement is a conclusion which is intended to follow logically from the preceding statements, which function as premises.
5. (mathematics) The independent variable of a function.
6. (programming) A value, or reference to a value, passed to a function.

   Parameters are like labeled fillable blanks used to define a function whereas arguments are passed to a function when calling it, filling in those blanks.

7. (programming) A parameter in a function definition; an actual parameter, as opposed to a formal parameter.
8. (linguistics) Any of the phrases that bears a syntactic connection to the verb of a clause.

Usage notes

• (formal parameter in a function definition): Some authors regard use of "argument" to mean "formal parameter" to be imprecise, preferring that argument refers only to the value that is used to instantiate the parameter at runtime, while parameter refers only to the name in the function definition that will be instantiated.

Synonyms

• (programming value): actual argument
• See also Wikisaurus:argument
• See also Wikisaurus:dispute

Related terms

• argue
• arguer
• arguable
• argumentative
• argumentation

External links

• argument in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• argument in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Czech

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

Noun

argument m.

1. argument (fact or statement used to support a proposition)

Derived terms

• protiargument

Related terms

• argumentace

See also

• parametr m.

French

Etymology

From Latin argūmentum, from arguō (“prove, argue”).

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

Noun

argument m. (plural arguments)

1. argument

   Quels que soient les arguments que vous avancez, je ne pourrai pas vous croire.

Serbo-Croatian

Pronunciation

• IPA: /arɡǔment/
• Hyphenation: ar‧gu‧ment

Noun

argùment m. (Cyrillic spelling аргу̀мент)

1. argument (fact or statement used to support a proposition)
2. (philosophy, logic, mathematics, programming) argument

Declension

Swedish

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

Noun

argument n.

1. an argument; a reason
2. (mathematics) an argument; an independent variable passed to a function
3. (programming) an argument; a variable passed to a function

Declension

Related 'Argument' Searches: