controversy

[kon-truh-vur-see, kuhn-trov-er-see]

noun

plural

controversies 

1. a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion.

   Synonyms: altercation, disagreement

2. contention, strife, or argument.

   Synonyms: wrangle, quarrel

controversy

/ kənˈtrɒvəsɪ, ˈkɒntrəˌvɜːsɪ, ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl /

noun

1. dispute, argument, or debate, esp one concerning a matter about which there is strong disagreement and esp one carried on in public or in the press

Other Word Forms

• precontroversy noun
• controversialism noun
• controversially adverb
• controversial adjective
• controversialist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of controversy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English controversie, from Anglo-French, from Latin contrōversia, from contrōvers(us) “turned against, disputed” ( contrō-, variant of contrā “against” + versus “turned,” past participle of vertere “to turn”) + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of controversy¹

C14: from Latin contrōversia, from contrōversus turned in an opposite direction, from _contra- + vertere to turn

Synonym Study

See argument.

Example Sentences

“We obviously condemn the recent events surrounding the doll controversy,” Frederic Merlin, president of SGM, said in an Instagram post on Sunday.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The controversy surrounds the position of the "grounding line" or "grounding zone" - where the glacier loses contact with the seabed and starts to float in the ocean.

Read more on BBC

The stock initially popped but has since been in decline as the company struggled to boost organic sales even before the controversy around Tylenol.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 2019, Trudeau faced another controversy after old photos of him in blackface surfaced, forcing him to issue a public apology.

Read more on BBC

Aside from her ex-husband, Ferguson has attracted controversy of her own.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• argument 
• bickering 
• difference 
• discussion 
• fuss 
• quarrel 
• squabble 
• strife 
• wrangle 
• wrangling www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does controversy mean?

A controversy is a prolonged dispute, debate, or state of contention, especially one that unfolds in public and involves a stark difference of opinion.Controversy can refer to a specific dispute, as in The recent controversy started three weeks ago, or a general state of contention, as in Important literature usually results in controversy.The adjective form controversial is used to describe someone or something that causes people to get upset and argue.Example: The controversy surrounding the candidate’s past remarks has overshadowed the campaign.