controversy

/ˌkɑntrəˈvʌrsi/

/ˈkɒntrəvəsi/

Other forms: controversies

A controversy is a dispute or argument in which people express strong opposing views. When a popular TV show kills off a well-loved character, there's bound to be a lot of controversy.

Controversy means a quarrel (often public) involving strong disagreement, but the topic can be as unimportant as a new movie. There might be a controversy in the pages of fashion magazines over whether shorter hems are really in style, or about wearing white after Labor Day. Controversy is from the Latin contrōversus, "turned in an opposite direction," from the prefix contrā, "against," plus versus, a form of vertere, "to turn."

Definitions of controversy

1. noun

   a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement
   synonyms: arguing, argument, contention, contestation, disceptation, disputation, tilt

   types:

   argle-bargle, argy-bargy

   a verbal dispute; a wrangling argument

   firestorm

   an outburst of controversy

   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

   type of:

   conflict, difference, difference of opinion, dispute

   a disagreement or argument about something important