1is·sue 
/ˈɪˌʃu:/ noun
plural is·sues /ˈɪˌʃu:/ noun 1 [count] : something that people are talking about, thinking about, etc. : an important subject or topic
▪ She is concerned with a variety of social/moral/economic issues. ▪ Water purity is a public health issue. ▪ The President's speech addressed a number of important issues. ▪ campaign issues like education and defense ▪ The company insists that race was not an issue in its decision. [=that its decision was not related to race in any way] ▪ The issue is poverty, not race: to talk about race is simply to confuse the issue. ▪ The case involves some complicated legal issues. ▪ He should stop dodging/avoiding the issue and make a decision now. 2 [count] : the version of a newspaper, magazine, etc., that is published at a particular time
▪ There's an interesting article on page 12 of this issue. ▪ the most recent issue of the magazine/journal ▪ the current/latest issue ▪ The library has a large collection of back issues. [=magazines, newspapers, etc., published before the current issue] 3 [singular] : the act of officially making something available or giving something to people to be used : the act of issuing something
▪ Several senators are calling for the issue [=issuance] of new guidelines. ▪ a government-issue gun [=a gun that the government has officially given to someone] — see also standard-issue 4 issues [plural] : problems or concerns
▪ the health issues associated with aging
▪ She is concerned with a variety of social/moral/economic issues. ▪ Water purity is a public health issue. ▪ The President's speech addressed a number of important issues. ▪ campaign issues like education and defense ▪ The company insists that race was not an issue in its decision. [=that its decision was not related to race in any way] ▪ The issue is poverty, not race: to talk about race is simply to confuse the issue. ▪ The case involves some complicated legal issues. ▪ He should stop dodging/avoiding the issue and make a decision now.
▪ There's an interesting article on page 12 of this issue. ▪ the most recent issue of the magazine/journal ▪ the current/latest issue ▪ The library has a large collection of back issues. [=magazines, newspapers, etc., published before the current issue]
▪ Several senators are calling for the issue [=issuance] of new guidelines. ▪ a government-issue gun [=a gun that the government has officially given to someone] — see also standard-issue
▪ the health issues associated with aging
at issue
: being discussed or considered
▪ At issue is the city's budget plan for next year. ▪ What is at issue is not the candidate's private life but her politics.
▪ At issue is the city's budget plan for next year. ▪ What is at issue is not the candidate's private life but her politics.
force the issue
: to force someone to do something or to make a decision about something
▪ They would never have addressed the problem if that newspaper article hadn't forced the issue. ▪ Neither side is willing to force the issue.
▪ They would never have addressed the problem if that newspaper article hadn't forced the issue. ▪ Neither side is willing to force the issue.
have issues
informal 1 : to have problems that make you unhappy and difficult to deal with
▪ He seemed nice enough at first, but it turns out he has (a lot of) issues. ▪ She has serious anger issues. [=she often gets so angry that she is difficult to deal with] 2 : to have reasons for disliking someone or something : to disagree with or disapprove of someone or something — + with ▪ I have some issues with his behavior.
▪ He seemed nice enough at first, but it turns out he has (a lot of) issues. ▪ She has serious anger issues. [=she often gets so angry that she is difficult to deal with]
make an issue of
: to argue about (something) or insist that (something) be treated as an important problem
▪ I knew they'd made a mistake, but I was too tired to make an issue of it. ▪ They kept making an issue of his smoking. [=they continued to criticize him because he smokes cigarettes]
▪ I knew they'd made a mistake, but I was too tired to make an issue of it. ▪ They kept making an issue of his smoking. [=they continued to criticize him because he smokes cigarettes]
take issue with
: to disagree with (someone or something)
▪ She took issue with the conclusions reached by the study. ▪ I take issue with their whole approach to the problem.
▪ She took issue with the conclusions reached by the study. ▪ I take issue with their whole approach to the problem.
without issue
law : without having children
▪ He died without issue.
▪ He died without issue.
