controversy

From Middle English controversie, from Old French controversie, from Latin contrōversia (“debate, contention, controversy”), from contrōversus (“turned in an opposite direction”).

• (UK) now more common: IPA^(key): /kənˈtɹɒvəsi/, more traditional: IPA^(key): /ˈkɒntɹəˌvɜːsi/[1]

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• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑntɹəˌvɝsi/

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controversy (countable and uncountable, plural controversies)

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

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:dispute

   • 1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folio 11, recto:

     [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; [...]

   • 2011 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Everton 0 – 2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport‎, archived from the original on 15 July 2019:

     The game was engulfed in controversy when [Jack] Rodwell appeared to win the ball cleanly in a midfield challenge with [Luis] Suarez. The tackle drew an angry response from Liverpool's players – Lucas in particular as Suarez writhed in agony – but it was an obvious injustice when the England Under-21 midfielder was shown the red card.

• controversialist
• controvert
• controverter
• controvertible

• controversy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• “controversy”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• controversy at OneLook Dictionary Search