Plural of altercation; heated arguments or loud quarrels between people.
From Latin altercatio (dispute, quarrel), derived from altercari (to wrangle). The noun form has survived in modern English even as the verb 'altercate' faded, especially in legal and formal contexts.
Police reports love the word 'altercations' because it sounds more serious and official than 'fights'—a single altercation can escalate a misdemeanor charge! The word's formality makes even petty squabbles sound significant.
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