What does "controversy" mean?

A debate or discussion of opposing opinions; (generally) strife.

How do you pronounce "controversy"?

Pronounced //kənˈtɹɒv.ə.si//.

Controversy

Q: What is a synonym for "controversy"?

Common synonyms include: argument, disputation, altercation, altercation, antagonism, apologetics.

//kənˈtɹɒv.ə.si// noun

noun ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun

1
A debate or discussion of opposing opinions; (generally) strife. countable, uncountable
"[A]nd it is without all controuerſie, that learning doth make the minds of men gentle, generous, maniable, and pliant to gouernment; whereas Ignorance makes them churliſh, thwart, and mutinous; […]"
2
a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

argument disputation altercation altercation antagonism apologetics

Antonyms

All antonyms

agreement consensus

Example

More examples

"We sided with him in the controversy."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrā Proto-Indo-European *wert- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ttós Proto-Italic *worssosder. Latin vorsusder. Latin versus Latin contrōversus Latin -ia Latin contrōversia Old French controversiebor. Middle English controversie English controversy From Middle English controversie, from Old French controversie, from Latin contrōversia (“debate, contention, controversy”), from contrōversus (“turned in an opposite direction”).

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.