polemic

noun

po·​lem·​ic pə-ˈle-mik 

1

a

: an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another

b

: the art or practice of disputation or controversy

—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction

2

: an aggressive controversialist : disputant

polemicist

pə-ˈle-mə-sist 

noun

Did you know?

Diatribe, jeremiad, philippic … the English language sure has a lot of formal words for the things we say or write when we are—to use a decidedly less formal term—big mad. We will refrain from going on a tirade about it, however, especially since it’s good to have options with subtle differences in tone and meaning. Polemic, which traces back ultimately to the Greek word for war, polemos, is the word you want to refer specifically to an aggressive attack on someone’s ideas or principles. Someone who is cheesed off because they don’t like cheese, for example, wouldn’t write a polemic about it. A turophile upset about the gustatory philosophy behind their local cheesemonger’s recent offerings just might.

Examples of polemic in a Sentence

Her book is a fierce polemic against the inequalities in our society.

They managed to discuss the issues without resorting to polemics.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, an early Jewish polemic claimed that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier nicknamed Panther—perhaps employing a tasteless but pointed pun on the Greek word parthenos (virgin). —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

It should not be crafted as a polemic but as a pragmatic assessment of why, from the business perspective, the rule of law serves the national interest in a multiplicity of clearly articulated ways. —Mark A. Cohen, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

And repulsion is the animating sentiment of Mishra’s new polemic, The World After Gaza. —Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025

And repulsion is the animating sentiment of Mishra’s new polemic, The World After Gaza. —Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French polémique, from Middle French, from polemique controversial, from Greek polemikos warlike, hostile, from polemos war; perhaps akin to Greek pelemizein to shake, Old English ealfelo baleful

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for polemic

• anaemic
• endemic
• glycemic
• pandemic
• systemic
• academic
• epidemic
• epistemic
• hyperemic
• chemic
• remic
• hypovolemic

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

polemic

noun

po·​lem·​ic pə-ˈlem-ik 

: an aggressive attack on the opinions or beliefs of another

polemical

-ˈlem-i-kəl

adjective

also polemic

polemically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb