controversy
Americannoun
plural
controversies-
a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; disputation concerning a matter of opinion.
- Synonyms:
- altercation, disagreement
-
contention, strife, or argument.
noun
Usage
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.
Related Words
See argument.
Other Word Forms
- controversial adjective
- controversialism noun
- controversialist noun
- controversially adverb
- precontroversy noun
Etymology
Origin of controversy
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While there’s no evidence of cheating, many fans have drawn comparisons to the “Vanderpump Rules” Scandoval controversy.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
However, the new policy didn’t come without controversy: Wikipedia’s editors argued internally over various use cases for artificial intelligence, including the potential inclusion of now-common internet features like generated article summaries.
From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026
The former Liverpool and Manchester City forward courted controversy on and off the field over the course of a career packed with notable achievements but several flashpoints too.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
However, the post fell short of a formal apology, which could mean the controversy won’t end swiftly.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026
Between Hutton’s day and Lyell’s there arose a new geological controversy, which largely superseded, but is often confused with, the old Neptunian-Plutonian dispute.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
