polemic

[ puh-lem-ik, poh- ]
See synonyms for: polemicpolemics on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.

  2. a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist.

adjective
  1. Also po·lem·i·cal. of or relating to a polemic; controversial.

Origin of polemic

1
First recorded in 1610–20; from French polémique “disputatious, argumentative,” from Greek polemikós “of or for war,” equivalent to pólem(os) “war” + -ikos -ic

Other words from polemic

  • po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • non·po·lem·ic, noun, adjective
  • non·po·lem·i·cal, adjective
  • non·po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·po·lem·i·cal, adjective
  • o·ver·po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • un·po·lem·ic, adjective
  • un·po·lem·i·cal, adjective
  • un·po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby polemic

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How to use polemic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for polemic

polemic

/ (pəˈlɛmɪk) /


adjectiveAlso: po'lemical
  1. of or involving dispute or controversy

noun
  1. an argument or controversy, esp over a doctrine, belief, etc

  2. a person engaged in such an argument or controversy

Origin of polemic

1
C17: from Medieval Latin polemicus, from Greek polemikos relating to war, from polemos war

Derived forms of polemic

  • polemically, adverb
  • polemicist (pəˈlɛmɪsɪst) or polemist (ˈpɒlɪmɪst), noun

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