polemic

American  

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

noun

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  

/ pəˈlɛmɪsɪst, pəˈlɛmɪk, ˈpɒlɪmɪst /

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

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

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

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

Polemic, however, is not the method of Belarus Free theatre.

From The Guardian • Jun. 17, 2012

Polemic epistles make their appearance; but they are the letters of non-Jewish missionaries like Paul.

From The Book of Delight and Other Papers by Abrahams, Israel

Polemic against the particular claims of the false teachers, 16 end.

From The Bible Book by Book A Manual for the Outline Study of the Bible by Books by Tidwell, Josiah Blake

Polemic, vol. iii. 1-288, 1752; or in the modern works, Greville Ewing's Essays addressed to the Jews, and Dr. McCaul's Old Paths, 1837, and his Warburton Lectures, 1846.

From History of Free Thought in Reference to The Christian Religion by Farrar, Adam Storey

If Heenan had become a Christian, he would have made a capital professor in Polemic Theology.

From Around The Tea-Table by Talmage, T. De Witt (Thomas De Witt)

Related Words

• spat