Controversial
/ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl/
Definitions
Arousing public disagreement; relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument.
/ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl/
Arousing argument, dispute, or disagreement.
The proposed law is highly controversial and has sparked a lot of debate.
💡 Simply: Imagine a topic that everyone has a strong opinion about, and people often argue about it. That's controversial. Like, should kids have phones? It's a hot debate!
👶 For kids: Something is controversial when people don't agree about it and often argue about it.
More Examples
The artist's work was quite controversial, leading to both praise and criticism.
His controversial statements on social media quickly drew backlash.
How It's Used
"The politician's stance on immigration proved highly controversial."
"The documentary's portrayal of the events was considered controversial by many."
"Abortion remains a controversial topic in many societies."
Idioms & expressions
open to controversy
Likely to cause debate or disagreement.
"The new policy is open to controversy."
fan the flames of controversy
To make a controversial situation worse or more intense.
"The media's coverage only served to fan the flames of controversy."
From late Middle English *controversie*, from Old French *controversie* (14c.), from Latin *controversia* 'a turning against, dispute', from *contro-* (variant of *contra-* 'against') + *versus* (past participle of *vertere* 'to turn').
The word has been used since the late 14th century, primarily within legal and theological contexts, describing matters of debate or dispute.
Memory tip
Think of a fire -- controversial topics spark heated debates, just like a flame ignites a blaze.