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
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
con•tro•ver•sy /ˈkɑntrəˌvɜrsi/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -sies.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a fierce and long public dispute concerning a matter of opinion;
argument: [countable]A new controversy arose regarding the politician's finances.[uncountable]Everywhere he went, in everything he did, he created controversy.
con•tro•ver•sy
(kon′trə vûr′sē; Brit. also kən trov′ər sē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -sies.
- a prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention;
disputation concerning a matter of opinion. - contention, strife, or argument.
- Latin contrōversia, equivalent. to contrōvers(us) turned against, disputed (contrō-, variant of contrā against, + versus, past participle of vertere to turn) + -ia -y3
- Anglo-French)
- Middle English controversie (1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged disagreement, altercation.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged quarrel, wrangle. See argument.
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'subject to controversy' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):