controversial

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*

contro'versialism

—n

contro'versialist

—n

contro'versially

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Word Origin & History

controversial

1580s, from L. controversialis, from controversus (see controversy).

Example sentences

Although the evidence remains controversial, he is convinced that the radiation

poses a risk to human health.

The frequently controversial and always amazing soccer superstar has performed

as both a player and now a coach.

Its hosts should strive for broadmindedness while approaching controversial

news topics with disclosed and well-understood biases.

It can't not change your worldview-and it obviously changed his in a way that

has been controversial for a lot of people.

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Matching Quote

"If men were equally at risk from this condition—if they knew their bellies might swell as if they were suffering from end-stage cirrhosis, that they would have to go nearly a year without a stiff drink, a cigarette, or even an aspirin, that they would be subject to fainting spells and unable to fight their way onto commuter trains—then I am sure that pregnancy would be classified as a sexually transmitted disease and abortions would be no more controversial than emergency appendectomies."

-Barbara Ehrenreich