What does "issue" mean?
The action or an instance of flowing or coming out, an outflow; A movement of soldiers towards an enemy, a sortie.
Issue
/ˈɪʃuː/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The action or an instance of flowing or coming out, an outflow; A movement of soldiers towards an enemy, a sortie.
- Grammar: issue is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: number, offspring, subject, topic.
- Useful contrasts: ancestors, answer, canceling.
- Usage evidence: We should face up to this issue.
How to use "issue"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "issue" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "issue" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "issue" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "issue" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "issue" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "number" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "issue", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The action or an instance of flowing or coming out, an outflow; A movement of soldiers towards an enemy, a sortie. obsolete
- 2 A Monacan Indian; a member of a Mestee group originating in Amherst County, Virginia. derogatory
- 3 the act of providing an item for general use or for official purposes (usually in quantity) wordnet
- 4 The action or an instance of flowing or coming out, an outflow; The outflow of a bodily fluid, particularly (now rare) in abnormal amounts.
"The technique minimizes the issue of blood from the incision."
- 5 the act of issuing printed materials wordnet
Show 44 more definitions
- 6 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; The bodily fluid drained through a natural or artificial issue. archaic
"For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses."
- 7 an opening that permits escape or release wordnet
- 8 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; Offspring: one's natural child or children. historical, usually
"He died intestate and without issue, so the extended family have all lawyered up."
- 9 some situation or event that is thought about wordnet
- 10 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; Progeny: all one's lineal descendants. figuratively
"Although his own kingdom disappeared, his issue went on to rule a quarter of Europe."
- 11 an important question that is in dispute and must be settled wordnet
- 12 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; A race of people considered as the descendants of some common ancestor. figuratively, obsolete
- 13 one of a series published periodically wordnet
- 14 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; The produce or income derived from farmland or rental properties. archaic
"3. A conveys to B all right to the real property aforementioned for a term of _____ years, with all said real property's attendant issues, rents, and profits."
- 15 the becoming visible wordnet
- 16 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; Income derived from fines levied by a court or law-enforcement officer; the fines themselves. historical, rare
- 17 the immediate descendants of a person wordnet
- 18 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; The entrails of a slaughtered animal. obsolete
- 19 a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon wordnet
- 20 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; Any action or deed performed by a person. obsolete, rare
- 21 the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property wordnet
- 22 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; Luck considered as the favor or disfavor of nature, the gods, or God. obsolete
- 23 supplies (as food or clothing or ammunition) issued by the government wordnet
- 24 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; A single edition of a newspaper or other periodical publication.
"Yeah, I just got the June issue of Wombatboy."
- 25 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; The entire set of some item printed and disseminated during a certain period, particularly (publishing) a single printing of a particular edition of a work when contrasted with other print runs.
"The May 1918 issue of US 24-cent stamps became famous when a printer's error inverted its depiction of an airmail plane."
- 26 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; The entire set of something; all of something. figuratively, usually, with-definite-article
"The bloody sergeant snaffled our whole issue of booze, dammit."
- 27 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; Any financial instrument issued by a company.
"The company's issues have included bonds, stocks, and other securities."
- 28 Someone or something that flows out or comes out; The loan of a book etc. from a library to a patron; all such loans by a given library during a given period.
- 29 The means or opportunity by which something flows or comes out, particularly
- 30 The means or opportunity by which something flows or comes out; A sewer. obsolete
- 31 The place where something flows or comes out, an outlet; An exit from a room or building. obsolete
"How if there were no centre at all, but just one alley after another, and the whole world a labyrinth without end or issue?"
- 32 The place where something flows or comes out, an outlet; A confluence: the mouth of a river; the outlet of a lake or other body of water. archaic
- 33 The action or an instance of sending something out, particularly
"The issue of the directive from the treasury prompted the central bank's most recent issue of currency."
- 34 The action or an instance of sending something out; A small incision, tear, or artificial ulcer, used to drain fluid and usually held open with a pea or other small object. historical
"Issues and fontanels were supposed remedies for joint diseases, pulmonary tuberculosis, and other chronic conditions."
- 35 The action or an instance of sending something out; The production or distribution of something for general use.
"Congress delegated the issue of US currency to the Federal Reserve in 1913."
- 36 The action or an instance of sending something out; The distribution of something (particularly rations or standardized provisions) to someone or some group.
"The uniform was standard prison issue."
- 37 The action or an instance of sending something out; The action or an instance of a company selling bonds, stock, or other securities.
"The company's stock issue diluted his ownership."
- 38 Any question or situation to be resolved, particularly
"Please stand by. We are having technical issues."
- 39 Any question or situation to be resolved; A point of law or fact in dispute or question in a legal action presented for resolution by the court.
"The issue before the court is whether participation in a group blog makes the plaintiff a public figure under the relevant statute."
- 40 Any question or situation to be resolved; Anything in dispute, an area of disagreement whose resolution is being debated or decided. figuratively
"For chrissakes, John, don't make an issue out of it. Just sleep on the floor if you want."
- 41 Any question or situation to be resolved; A difficult choice between two alternatives, a dilemma. obsolete, rare
- 42 Any question or situation to be resolved; A psychological or emotional difficulty, (now informal, figurative and usually euphemistic) any problem or concern considered as a vague and intractable difficulty. US, plural-normally
"She has daddy issues, mommy issues, drug issues, money issues, trust issues, printer issues... I'm just sayin', girl's got issues."
- 43 The action or an instance of concluding something; The end of any action or process. obsolete
- 44 The action or an instance of concluding something; The end of any period of time. obsolete
- 45 The end result of an event or events, any result or outcome, particularly
"The eternal happiness or misery of the departed saint depended on the issue of this contest between the powers of good and evil for the possession of his mortal remains."
- 46 The end result of an event or events, any result or outcome; The result of a discussion or negotiation, an agreement. archaic
- 47 The end result of an event or events, any result or outcome; The result of an investigation or consideration, a conclusion. obsolete
- 48 The action or an instance of feeling some emotion. archaic, figuratively
- 49 The action or an instance of leaving any state or condition. archaic, figuratively
Verb
- 1 To flow out, to proceed from, to come out or from. intransitive
"The water issued forth from the spring."
- 2 come out of wordnet
- 3 To rush out, to sally forth. intransitive
"The men issued from the town and attacked the besiegers."
- 4 prepare and issue for public distribution or sale wordnet
- 5 To extend into, to open onto. intransitive
"The road issues into the highway."
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 bring out an official document (such as a warrant) wordnet
- 7 To turn out in a certain way, to result in. intransitive
"But, for Livy, Roman patriotism is overriding, and this issues, of course, in an antiquarian attention to the city's origins."
- 8 make out and issue wordnet
- 9 To end up as, to turn out being, to become as a result. archaic, intransitive
"And let his foes like flockes of feareful Roes, Purſude by hunters, flie his angry lookes, That I may ſee him iſſue Conquerour."
- 10 circulate or distribute or equip with wordnet
- 11 To come to a point in fact or law on which the parties join issue.
- 12 To send out; to put into circulation. transitive
"The Federal Reserve issues US dollars."
- 13 To deliver for use. transitive
"The prison issued new uniforms for the inmates."
- 14 To deliver by authority. transitive
"The court issued a writ of mandamus."
Example
"We should face up to this issue."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "issue"?
Common synonyms include: number, offspring, subject, topic, accomplishment, accord.
How do you use "issue" in a sentence?
We should face up to this issue.
How do you pronounce "issue"?
Pronounced /ˈɪʃuː/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English issue, from Old French issue (“an exit, a way out”), feminine past participle of issir (“to exit”), from Latin exeō (“go out, exit”), from prefix ex- (“out”) + eō (“go”). The legal meaning originated from the concept of "the end or result of pleadings in a suit (by presenting the point to be determined by trial)," leading to the sense of "the controversy over facts in a trial" (early 14th century, Anglo-French). This later extended to mean "a point of contention between two parties" (early 15th century) and more generally, "an important point to be decided" (1836). Consequently, the verbal phrase take issue with emerged in 1797 (preceded by join issue in the 1690s), meaning "to adopt an affirmative or negative stance in a dispute with another." The expression to have issues, meaning "to have unresolved conflicts," dates back to 1990.
Etymology 2
From Free (“not enslaved”) Issue (“progeny”), "an antiquated designation for descendants of enslaved people who were freed before the Civil War", later applied to Monacans because Virginia laws for a time required births to be registered as either "White" or "Colored", erasing Indians, and clerks later haphazardly classified Monacans (even from the same mother and father) as "Mixed Indian", "Negro", or "Issue".