controversy
n. C / Un. 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.
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.
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”).
Often used with the verbs 'spark', 'cause', or 'stir up'; frequently followed by the prepositions 'over' or 'surrounding'.
there is a controversy about of the planthere is a controversy over the planLearners often use 'about of' or 'on' when 'over' or 'surrounding' are the more natural collocations for this noun.