What does "problematic" mean?

1. (causing difficulty) causing a problem or being difficult to deal with. 2. (socially or morally wrong) containing ideas that are unfair or offensive to certain groups of people. 3. (uncertain or doubtful) not certain to happen or not definitely true. 4. (a set of problems) a group of related problems or questions in a specific area of study.

problematic

adj. · n.

US //ˌpɹɑbɫəˈmætɪk// UK //pɹˌɒbəlmˈætɪk// prob·lem·at·ic

1 causing difficulty (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

causing a problem or being difficult to deal with.

constituting or presenting a problem or difficulty. Often used to describe logistical or practical complications.

Example

The lack of public transport in the area makes getting to work problematic.

Example

The project's timeline became increasingly problematic as several key suppliers failed to meet their delivery obligations during the peak season.
- simple
- straightforward
2 socially or morally wrong (adj.)
C1 Advanced Academic

containing ideas that are unfair or offensive to certain groups of people.

presenting social, moral, or ethical issues that require critical examination. Frequently used in academic and social justice contexts to identify bias.

Example

Many people find the jokes in that old movie to be problematic today.

Example

Scholars have argued that the author's portrayal of colonial history is deeply problematic due to its erasure of indigenous perspectives.
- acceptable
- unobjectionable

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3 uncertain or doubtful (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal

not certain to happen or not definitely true.

open to doubt or debate; not settled or certain. In logic, it refers to a proposition that is possible but not necessarily true.

Example

Whether the new law will actually reduce crime remains problematic.

Example

The evidence provided by the witness was considered problematic by the defence, as it contradicted several established facts of the case.
- certain
- indisputable
4 a set of problems (n.)
C2 Proficiency Academic Formal

a group of related problems or questions in a specific area of study.

a set of problems or a particular area of difficulty within a field of inquiry. Often used in sociology or philosophy to describe a framework of issues.

Example

The professor explained the social problematic of urban poverty.

Example

The research paper attempts to address the complex problematic of sustainable development in rapidly industrialising nations.

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French problématique, from Late Latin problematicus, from Ancient Greek προβληματικός (problēmatikós), from πρόβλημα (próblēma, “outjutting, barrier, problem”), from προβάλλω (probállō, “I throw, place before”), from πρό (pró, “before”) + βάλλω (bállō, “I throw, place”). By surface analysis, problem + -atic.