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

These charming scenes show that championing one’s identity need not always be polemic.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Rather than slide into polemic or tragic melodrama, Nguyen leans into the tension between the four half-siblings to unpack the complicated roles that surveillance, big tech and journalism play in our fractured modern state.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2025

This usefully allows the material to be less of a period piece — because, happily for Sister Helen, her polemic is somewhat dated.

From New York Times • Sep. 27, 2023

His Glastonbury set opened with the angry, antagonistic Hate, followed quickly by Plastic, a polemic about the seductive but reductive allure of consumer culture.

From BBC • Jun. 25, 2023

I was heart-sick at the prospect that he might want to re-edit the entire book into a polemic against Elijah Muhammad.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Related Words

• spat