polemic

American  

[puh-lem-ik, poh-] / pəˈlɛm ɪk, poʊ- /

noun

• polemics
  plural

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

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

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adjective

1. Also polemical. of or relating to a polemic; controversial.

polemic British  

/ pəˈlɛmɪk /

adjective

1. of or involving dispute or controversy

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noun

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

2. a person engaged in such an argument or controversy

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpolemic
  noun
• polemicist
  noun
• nonpolemical
  adjective
• overpolemical
  adjective
• unpolemic
  adjective
• unpolemical
  adjective
• nonpolemically
  adverb
• overpolemically
  adverb
• polemically
  adverb
• unpolemically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• polemics
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of polemic

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

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Explanation

A polemic is something that stirs up controversy by having a negative opinion, usually aimed at a particular group. A piece of writing can be a polemic, as long as it gets someone's goat. Polemic comes from the Greek polemikos meaning "warlike, belligerent." It's like challenging someone to a duel of ideas. These days a polemic is usually a piece of writing, such as if the Grinch published a powerful polemic against Christmas. It's like a debate, and philosophers from Nietzsche to Voltaire are known for theirs. The British philosopher John Stuart Mill had this to say about it: "The worst offense that can be committed by a polemic is to stigmatize those who hold a contrary opinion as bad and immoral men."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

polemic polemics

We care about his long-ago polemic because of the ideas he embedded in it and the force with which he expressed them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

But if you’re a fan of Everett’s unsparing truth-telling, you’re likely to be disappointed by this sweetened version of his polemic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 19, 2023

In every race, in every discussion, in every polemic, there is always a good power and a bad power, good guys and bad guys.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2023

What Rufo is talking about is a classic bait-and-switch — cutting and pasting a polemic from one place into another for a strategic advantage.

From Salon ● May 30, 2023

It’s as if Rogelio’s response has justified every polemic.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

"A Kingdom that counters polemics and resignation through friendship and a culture of encounter. Let us believe once again in love, moderation and good politics."

From Barron's ● Apr. 11, 2026

What Mr. Restall means is that the great explorer is still at the center of a swarm of unresolved polemics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

One of the more recent and ballyhooed polemics against Roosevelt was "The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression," a 2007 bestseller by Amity Shlaes.

From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2023

While the case does not directly relate to generative AI, Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that AI tools that generate "poetry" and "polemics" likely would not enjoy such legal protections.

From Reuters ● Apr. 24, 2023

Was it not a word, thanks to Pascal, irretrievably associated with religious polemics of the sort that the members of the Royal Society were determined to avoid?

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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