Snide altercation about model (5)
I believe the answer is:
ideal
'model' is the definition.
(ideal can mean model or perfect)
'snide altercation about' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates a hidden word (the clue goes around or about the answer).
'IDEAL' is hidden within 'snide altercation'.
(Other definitions for ideal that I've seen before include "Coal-mining waste" , "Model of excellence (5)." , "Perfect but not likely to become a reality" , "Embodying perfection" , "supreme" .)