controversy

noun

con·​tro·​ver·​sy ˈkän-trə-ˌvər-sē 

British also kən-ˈträ-və-sē

plural controversies

1

: a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views : dispute

The decision aroused a controversy among the students.

The movie is a subject of controversy.

2

: quarrel, strife

3

law : a civil action

The judicial power shall extend … to controversies to which the United States shall be a party …

—U.S. Constitution

Synonyms of controversy

• dispute
• altercation
• disagreement
• quarrel
• argument
• fight
• misunderstanding

Examples of controversy in a Sentence

The decision aroused much controversy among the students.

The new movie is a subject of controversy.

There is controversy surrounding the team's decision to trade the star pitcher.

The controversy is over whether he should be fired or not.

A controversy arose over the new law.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet there's been internal stress due to layoffs, return-to-office mandates and controversy surrounding Microsoft's contracts. —Jordan Novet, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025

The controversy that blew open a typically staid attorney general race stemmed from 2022 messages Jones sent to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

Swinney wondered aloud at his media availability why officials aren’t held more accountable and pointed to controversies around gambling. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025

The arrest marks another extraordinary revelation involving Ray County, a mostly rural county northeast of Kansas City that has faced a series of high-profile controversies in recent years. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English controversie, from Anglo-French, from Latin controversia, from controversus disputable, literally, turned against, from contro- (akin to contra-) + versus, past participle of vertere to turn — more at worth

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for controversy

• circe
• kersey
• mercy
• gramercy

Kids Definition

controversy

noun

con·​tro·​ver·​sy ˈkän-trə-ˌvər-sē 

plural controversies

1

: a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views : dispute

2

: quarrel entry 1 sense 2, strife

Etymology

Middle English controversie, from early French (same meaning), from Latin controversia "act or cause of disagreeing, dispute," literally, "something turned against or to the contrary," from contro-, contra- "against, contrary" and versus "turned," from vertere "to turn" — related to anniversary, converse, divert, versatile

Legal Definition

controversy

noun

con·​tro·​ver·​sy ˈkän-trə-ˌvər-sē Brit also kən-ˈträ-vər-sē 

plural controversies

1

: a state of dispute or disagreement

suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars

—U.S. Constitution amend. VII

2

: a civil action involving a real and immediate dispute between parties with adverse interests

Note: Article III of the U.S. Constitution gives the judiciary the power to decide cases and controversies. Article III's limitation of the judicial power to cases or controversies requires that an action brought in the federal court involve parties with standing to sue and questions that are ripe and not moot.

controversial

ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl, -ˈvər-sē-əl 

adjective