issue
B1Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
An important topic or problem for debate, discussion, or decision; a matter that needs to be addressed.
1. The act of giving something out officially or formally. 2. A single copy of a newspaper or magazine published at a particular time. 3. The action of flowing out or coming forth. 4. (Legal) Children or descendants. 5. (Verb) To give or supply something officially, or to come or cause to come out from a source.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
'Issue' primarily denotes a debatable matter requiring resolution. It can refer to tangible distribution (e.g., issuing passports) or abstract problems (e.g., social issues). Avoid overuse in contexts where 'problem' or 'topic' is more precise.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'to have issues with' (meaning to have problems/objections to) is common but considered somewhat informal. In American English, 'to take issue with' (meaning to disagree with) is a common, formal phrase. The noun 'issue' meaning 'children/offspring' is almost exclusively found in legal contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'issue' is often seen as a more formal or diplomatic alternative to 'problem', implying something that can be discussed and resolved.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties. The verb sense ('to issue a statement') is slightly more formal and frequent in official/written contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[N] + issue (e.g., a safety issue)[ADJ] + issue (e.g., a pressing issue)issue + [PREP] (e.g., an issue of concern, an issue with the software)to issue + [NP] + [PREP TO/FOR] (e.g., The office issued passports to the applicants.)to issue + [NP] + [ADV] (e.g., Smoke issued from the chimney.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “make an issue (out) of something”
- “take issue with someone/something”
- “the issue at hand”
- “force the issue”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to challenges, topics for discussion, or the formal release of shares, documents, or equipment. (e.g., 'We need to resolve the supply chain issue before the launch.')
Academic
Often used to denote a central problem, debate, or point of contention within a field of study. (e.g., 'The paper addresses the ethical issues surrounding AI.')
Everyday
Used for personal problems, topics of conversation, or the release of things like stamps or banknotes. (e.g., 'What's the issue with your car?' or 'The government issued new stamps.')
Technical
In IT, refers to a bug, fault, or ticket in a tracking system. In law, refers to offspring or a point of law to be decided. (e.g., 'The software update fixed several known issues.')
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council will issue new parking permits next week.
- The minister issued a formal apology to the families affected.
American English
- The State Department issued a travel advisory for the region.
- The volcano issued a plume of ash and smoke.
adjective
British English
- This is the issue date on the certificate.
- The issue price of the shares was set at £5.
American English
- Check the issue number on the magazine's cover.
- The bond's issue yield was very attractive.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The main issue is the cost.
- I have an issue with my computer.
- We discussed several important issues at the meeting.
- The company issued a statement about the incident.
- The environmental issues raised by the project are complex.
- He took issue with the report's conclusions, arguing they were biased.
- The legal issues surrounding data sovereignty remain unresolved.
- The government bonds were issued at a premium to attract international investors.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tissue: when you have an 'issue', it can be messy and needs careful handling, just like a delicate tissue.
Conceptual Metaphor
ISSUES ARE OBJECTS (to raise, drop, table); ISSUES ARE BURDENS (to carry, shoulder); ISSUES ARE FLUIDS (to flow from, stem from).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с русским 'иссуждать' (to discuss).
- Не всегда означает 'проблема' (problem); может быть нейтральной 'темой' (topic).
- В значении 'выпускать' (to issue) используется для официальных документов, а не для общего 'выпуска продукции' (release/production).
- Избегайте кальки 'иметь issue' вместо 'иметь проблему/вопрос'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'issue' as a direct synonym for every 'problem' (e.g., 'I have an issue opening this jar' is unnatural; use 'problem' or 'trouble').
- Incorrect preposition: 'an issue about' is less common than 'an issue with' or 'an issue of'.
- Pronouncing it as /ˈaɪ.sjuː/ (like 'eye-sue') instead of /ˈɪʃ.uː/.
- Overusing the verb form in informal contexts where 'give' or 'send' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'issue' used as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While it can mean 'problem', 'issue' often implies a topic that is open for debate, discussion, or decision-making. It can be more neutral than 'problem', which suggests something negative that needs fixing.
Rarely in modern everyday English. The meaning 'children/offspring' (e.g., 'He died without issue') is archaic and found almost exclusively in legal or historical contexts. Avoid using it this way in normal conversation.
'An issue with' points to a specific problem concerning something (e.g., 'an issue with the software'). 'An issue of' introduces the general topic or type of issue (e.g., 'an issue of privacy', 'an issue of Time magazine').
Mostly yes. The verb 'to issue' typically refers to the official release, supply, or distribution of something authoritative: documents (passports, statements), warnings, orders, currency, or shares. You wouldn't normally 'issue' a casual invitation to a friend.