controversy
KON-truh-vur-see/ˈkɑn.tɹəˌvɝ.si/kuhn-TROV-uh-see/kənˈtɹɒv.ə.si/
Pluralcontroversies
- 1A public dispute or debate between people holding strongly opposing opinions; more broadly, conflict or strife.
The scientist's claims sparked considerable controversy among her peers.
Years of controversy surrounded the museum's decision to return the artifacts.
Similarargument, dispute, debate, disagreement, conflict
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Origin
This word comes from Latin contrōversia ("debate, contention, controversy"), from contrōversus ("turned in an opposite direction"), passing through Old French controversie and Middle English controversie into English.