controversy

Bridgezipf 4.26

Pronunciation

/ˈkɒntrəvɜːsi/(KON-truh-ver-see)

Part of speech

nounneutral

Chinese

争议；争论（引起公众强烈意见分歧的讨论或辩论）

Definition

Prolonged public disagreement or debate about a matter.

Word family

  • controversial/ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl/(adj)有争议的
  • controversially/ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəli/(adv)有争议地

Collocations

  • spark controversy
  • court controversy
  • generate controversy
  • centre of controversy
  • without controversy
  • surrounding controversy
  • embroiled in controversy

Examples

  1. 1.The decision to relocate the headquarters sparked immediate controversy, with employees and local leaders both criticising the move.
  2. 2.The policy has remained a source of controversy since it was introduced three years ago.

Synonyms

  • debate/dɪˈbeɪt/— a formal discussion of opposing views
  • dispute/dɪˈspjuːt/— a disagreement
  • contention/kənˈtɛnʃən/— a heated dispute

Etymology

from Latin "controversia" = a dispute, from "controversus" (turned against), from "contra-" + "vertere" (to turn)