Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

controversy

/ˈkɑn.tɹəˌvɝ.si/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.26 in modern English

Syllables: con-tro-ver-sy
IPA: /ˈkɑn.tɹəˌvɝ.si/

19

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A debate or discussion of opposing opinions; (generally) strife.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"[A]nd it is without all controuerſie, that learning doth make the minds of men gentle, generous, maniable, and pliant to gouernment; whereas Ignorance makes them churliſh, thwart, and mutinous; […]"
"From time to time I have been permitted to behold the working, in different ages, of the great controversy between Christ, the Prince of life, the Author of our salvation, and Satan, the prince of evil, the author of sin, the first transgressor of God's holy law."
"The game was engulfed in controversy when [Jack] Rodwell appeared to win the ball cleanly in a midfield challenge with [Luis] Suarez. The tackle drew an angry response from Liverpool's players – Lucas in particular as Suarez writhed in agony – but it was an obvious injustice when the England Under-21 midfielder was shown the red card."
"On November 29 1952, a special train ran from Sunderland to Leeds for Christmas shoppers and those attending a Leeds vs. Brentford match. It caused controversy, with Sunderland traders protesting that their shops were just as good as those in Leeds."

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 vorsus Latin versus Latin contrōversus Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos 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”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: controversie, contrōversia

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈkɑn.tɹəˌvɝ.si/

Usage

Inflected Forms

controversies (plural)

Derived Forms

controversial cybercontroversy manufactroversy noncontroversy nontroversy postcontroversy precontroversy

Phrases

Hesychast controversy pseudo-controversy teach the controversy

Frequently Paired Words

controversialist controvert controverter controvertible

Synonyms

argument argy-bargy altercation contention barney bawl out blue bobbery brawl clash conflict controversy

Antonyms

consensus agreement

Questions

How do you pronounce controversy?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɑn.tɹəˌvɝ.si/.
What does controversy mean?: A debate or discussion of opposing opinions; (generally) strife.
Where does controversy come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce controversy

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “controversy”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈkɑn.tɹəˌvɝ.si/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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