Word
controversy
Phoneticscon·tro·ver·sy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑntɹəˌvɝsi/
UK/kˈɒntɹəvˌɜːsi/
Countable & uncountable
In Japanese
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
Definition
n. a lot of public disagreement or argument about something. It usually happens when people have very strong, opposite opinions on a topic.
n. a state of prolonged public dispute or debate concerning a matter of opinion. Often associated with ethical, political, or social issues that polarize a community.
Examples
“The new law caused a lot of controversy.”
“The decision to build a highway through the forest sparked a heated controversy among local residents.”
“The publication of the senator's private journals ignited a national controversy regarding the boundaries between public service and personal privacy.”
Examples
simple
“The new law caused a lot of controversy.”
contextual
“The decision to build a highway through the forest sparked a heated controversy among local residents.”
complex
“The publication of the senator's private journals ignited a national controversy regarding the boundaries between public service and personal privacy.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “controversy” in context.
Verb
01. avoid controversy
“The politician tried to avoid controversy by refusing to answer questions about his private life.”
verb + noun
02. spark a controversy
“The director's new film sparked a controversy regarding its historical accuracy.”
verb + adj + noun
03. stir up controversy
“His comments on social media were clearly intended to stir up controversy among his followers.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
04. bitter controversy
“A bitter controversy erupted between the two scientists over who discovered the virus first.”
adj + noun
05. considerable controversy
“The decision to close the local hospital has caused considerable controversy in the town.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. subject of controversy
“The use of genetic engineering in food remains a major subject of controversy.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
07. amid controversy
“The CEO resigned amid controversy following the release of the audit report.”
prep + noun
08. surrounded by controversy
“The new art installation has been surrounded by controversy since the day it opened.”
verb + prep + noun
09. controversy surrounding
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'spark', 'cause', or 'stir up'; frequently followed by the prepositions 'over' or 'surrounding'.
Pitfall
there is a controversy about of the plan
there is a controversy over the plan
Learners often use 'about of' or 'on' when 'over' or 'surrounding' are the more natural collocations for this noun.
Real-World Examples
“It sometimes seems like no musical success in the 2020s is allowed to pass without some degree of online controversy.” “But it has already generated intense controversy, which has exposed deeper questions about the way inquiries into major air incidents are carried out.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrā Proto-Indo-European *wert- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *wr̥ttós Proto-Italic *worssosder. Latin vorsusder. Latin versus Latin contrōversus Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin contrōversia Old French controversiebor. Middle English controversie English controversy From Middle English controversie, from Old French controversie, from Latin contrōversia (“debate, contention, controversy”), from contrōversus (“turned in an opposite direction”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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