controversy

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con·tro·ver·sy

(kŏn′trə-vûr′sē)

n. pl. con·tro·ver·sies

1. A dispute, especially a public one, between sides holding opposing views.

2. The act or practice of engaging in such disputes: writers skilled at controversy.

[Middle English controversie, from Latin contrōversia, from contrōversus, disputed : contrō- (variant of contrā, contra-) + versus, past participle of vertere, to turn; see wer- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

controversy

(ˈkɒntrəˌvɜːsɪ; kənˈtrɒvəsɪ)

n, pl -sies

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

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

controversial adj

ˌcontroˈversialˌism n

ˌcontroˈversialist n

ˌcontroˈversially adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

con•tro•ver•sy

(ˈkɒn trəˌvɜr si; Brit. also kənˈtrɒv ər si)

n., pl. -sies.

1. a public dispute concerning a matter of opinion.

2. contention, strife, or argument.

[1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin contrōversia=contrōvers(us) turned against, disputed (contrō-, variant of contrā against, + versus, past participle of vertere to turn) + -ia -y³]

syn: See argument.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun

controversy - a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement; "they were involved in a violent argument"

contestation, disceptation, arguing, argument, contention, disputation, tilt

difference of opinion, dispute, difference, conflict - a disagreement or argument about something important; "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats"

argle-bargle, argy-bargy - a verbal dispute; a wrangling argument

firestorm - an outburst of controversy; "the incident triggered a political firestorm"

sparring - an argument in which the participants are trying to gain some advantage

polemic - a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma)

fight - an intense verbal dispute; "a violent fight over the bill is expected in the Senate"

controversy

noun argument, debate, row, discussion, dispute, contention, quarrel, squabble, strife, wrangle, wrangling, polemic, altercation, dissension The proposed cuts have caused considerable controversy.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

controversy

noun

A discussion, often heated, in which a difference of opinion is expressed:

altercation, argument, bicker, clash, contention, debate, difficulty, disagreement, dispute, fight, polemic, quarrel, run-in, spat, squabble, tiff, word (used in plural), wrangle.

Informal: hassle, rhubarb, tangle.

Translations

جِدال، مُناظَرَه

debatakontroverzespor

kontroversstrid

Kontroverse

controversia polémica

kiistasanaharkka

controverse querelle

kontroverzakontroverzija

deila; òræta

controversia controverso polemica

diskusinispolemikapolemiškaipolemiškas

polemikastrīds

feide kontrovers polemikk

controvérsia

kontroverzia

spor

tartışma

争议

controversy

[kɒnˈtrɒvəsɪ] N → controversia f, polémica f; (= debate) → polémica f
there was a lot of controversy about it → hubo mucha controversia or polémica en torno a eso
to cause controversy → ocasionar controversia or polémica

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

controversy

[ˈkɒntrəvɜː^rsi kənˈtrɒvə^rsi] n → controverse f, polémique f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

controversy

n → Kontroversen pl, → Streit m; there was a lot of controversy about it → es gab deswegen große Kontroversen or Differenzen; to lead to controversy → Anlass zu Kontroversen geben; statements/facts that are beyond controversy → völlig unumstrittene Behauptungen/Tatsachen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

controversy

[kənˈtrɒvəsɪ] n → controversia, polemica
it has caused a lot of controversy → ha causato molte polemiche

controversy

(kənˈtrovəsi) , (ˈkontrəvəːsi) – plural controversies – noun

(an) argument between opposing points of view. the controversy over the appointment of the new chairman.

controversial (kontrəˈvəːʃəl) adjective

causing controversy. His new book is very controversial.

ˌcontroˈversially adverb

References in classic literature ?

A CONTROVERSY prevailed among the beasts of the field as to which of the animals deserved the most credit for producing the greatest number of whelps at a birth.

View in context

There is much controversy about the delivering up of fugitives from service or labor.

View in context

Naturally unwilling to confine himself to a private sphere, he soon engaged in a prose controversy supporting the Puritan view against the Episcopal form of church government, that is against the office of bishops.

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In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

View in context

This saved me a great deal of heated controversy with my contemporaries, but I had it out in many angry reveries with Dr.

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The publication of "The Shame of the Sun" had started a controversy and precipitated the landslide in his favor.

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Robinson more than once appeared, with credit to himself, as a public disputant against Episcopius; and from the manner in which the fact is related by Governor Bradford, it is apparent that the whole English Church at Leyden took a zealous interest in the religious part of the controversy. As strangers in the land, it is presumable that they wisely and honorably avoided entangling themselves in the political contentions involved with it.

View in context

It has been the prudent policy of Congress to appease this controversy, by prevailing upon the States to make cessions to the United States for the benefit of the whole.

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It is not sinful to wrangle in religious controversy; and it is not sinful to slumber over a religious book.

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Upon the whole, the controversy seems of no great importance to those who believe the Holy Scriptures sufficient to teach the way of salvation, but of whatever moment it may be thought, there are not proofs sufficient to decide it.

View in context

He suddenly left the cabin, and I heard him in violent controversy with some one, who seemed to me to talk gibberish in response to him.

View in context

Begbie, the gardener, waiting outside to continue the dog-rose controversy with Sergeant Cuff.