controversy
noun/ˈkɒntrəvɜːsi/, /kənˈtrɒvəsi/
/ˈkɑːntrəvɜːrsi/
[uncountable, countable] (plural controversies)
- controversy (over/about/surrounding somebody/something) public discussion and argument about something that many people strongly disagree about, think is bad, or are shocked by
- to arouse/cause controversy
- a bitter controversy over/about the site of the new airport
- The controversy surrounding his latest movie continues.
- The President resigned amid considerable controversy.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb2- Controversy exists as to how safe these drugs are.
- Controversy is raging over the route of the new motorway.
- He has resigned amid continuing controversy over his expense claims.
- His views have excited a lively controversy among fellow scientists.
- Ms Benjamin, who is no stranger to controversy herself, said the scandal could have serious repercussions.
- Much controversy surrounds the new exam.
- Public funding could resolve the controversy surrounding campaign finance.
- The book raised a storm of controversy.
- The controversy centred on the issue of compensation for the victims.
- The minister has resigned amid continuing controversy over his education proposals.
- The network ran into controversy over claims of faked documentary footage.
- The president seemed anxious to avoid controversy about these appointments.
- The singer deliberately courts controversy with his racist and sexist lyrics.
- There has been a lot of controversy over the use of these drugs.
- This year's championships have been dogged by controversy.
- Today, the controversy continues over whether Shakespeare wrote all his plays.
- What they are doing is bound to stir up controversy.
- controversy among historians
- controversy between the two leaders
- her long-running controversy with fellow academics
- the bitter controversy surrounding the introduction of the new regulations
- This is a subject that always causes controversy.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- great
- major
- …
- arouse
- cause
- create
- …
- arise
- break out
- erupt
- …
- amid controversy
- controversy about
- controversy concerning
- …
- a matter of controversy
- a source of controversy
- a subject of controversy
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin controversia, from controversus ‘turned against, disputed’, from contro- (variant of contra- ‘against’) + versus, past participle of vertere ‘to turn’.
Check pronunciation:
controversy