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polemic

[ puh-lem-ik, poh- ]
/ pəˈlɛm ɪk, poʊ- /
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See synonyms for: polemic / polemics on Thesaurus.com

noun
a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.
a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist.
adjective
Also po·lem·i·cal. of or relating to a polemic; controversial.
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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

OTHER WORDS FROM polemic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use polemic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for polemic

polemic
/ (pəˈlɛmɪk) /

adjective Also: po'lemical
of or involving dispute or controversy
noun
an argument or controversy, esp over a doctrine, belief, etc
a person engaged in such an argument or controversy

Derived forms of polemic

polemically, adverbpolemicist (pəˈlɛmɪsɪst) or polemist (ˈpɒlɪmɪst), noun

Word Origin for polemic

C17: from Medieval Latin polemicus, from Greek polemikos relating to war, from polemos war
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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