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A controversy is a prolonged dispute, debate, or state of contention, especially one that unfolds in public and involves a stark difference of opinion.

Controversy can refer to a specific dispute, as in The recent controversy started three weeks ago, or a general state of contention, as in Important literature usually results in controversy.

The adjective form controversial is used to describe someone or something that causes people to get upset and argue.

Example: The controversy surrounding the candidate’s past remarks has overshadowed the campaign.

The first records of the word controversy come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin ���DzԳٰ�ō�����������, which is equivalent to ���DzԳٰ�ō�������(�ܲ�), meaning “turned against” or “disputed.” The term ultimately derives from the roots ���DzԳٰ���, meaning “against” (as seen in words like contrary), and vertere, meaning “to turn” (as in the word versus).

Yes, controversies cause people to turn against each other. People say and do things all the time that cause arguments or debate (and the strife and discord that come with them), but we most often use the word controversy when these situations play out in public. There’s a reason for that: the more public something is, the more people will engage with it. And when people are involved, there’s no shortage of opinions. The formula for controversy is very simple: a lot of opinions plus a lot of passion. Topics traditionally known as controversial include religion and politics, probably because those are two areas where people are least willing to compromise. In this way, controversies can be polarizing, meaning that they divide people into very specific groups based on their very specific opinions.

People (particularly public figures) are called controversial when they do or say things that get other people worked up. Of course, some people cause controversy on purpose, especially to attract attention.

People sometimes criticize the use of the word controversial, especially by the media, to describe something that they argue is not just contentious but plain wrong in some way, as in His remarks weren’t controversial—they were racist.

What are some other forms related to controversy?

• controversial (adjective)
• controversially (adverb)

What are some words that share a root or word element with controversy?��

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• controvert
• contrary
• versus

What are some words that often get used in discussing controversy?

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• public
• political
• source
• surrounding
• scandal
• contentious
• dispute
• opinion
• argument
• media
• polarizing
• divisive

The word controversy is most often used when such a dispute happens in public and is documented (and, yes, sometimes played up) by the media.

Protesters toppled and set aflame a statue of Albert Pike in Washington. The statue, funded by the Freemasons, was the only statue of a Confederate general in the nation's capital and a longtime source of controversy.

— The Associated Press (@AP)

1/ I’m not weighing in on the growing controversy about the complex rules applied to developers in ’s App Store. Just based on what I’ve read, I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple is forced to change some of them. But I want to make three points that people seem to forget.

— Walt Mossberg (@waltmossberg)

Controversy is back in the Premier League.

It only took 41 minutes 🤣

— B/R Football (@brfootball)

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Which of the following words is LEAST likely to be used to describe a controversy?

A. intense
B. political
C. contentious
D. agreeable