From Middle English controversie, from Old French controversie, from Latin contrōversia, from contrōversus ("turned in an opposite direction").

• (British) now more common: IPA: /kənˈtɹɒvəsi/, more traditional: IPA: /ˈkɒntɹəˌvɜːsi/
• (America, Canada) IPA: /ˈkɑntɹəˌvɝsi/

controversy

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

   Synonyms: Thesaurus:dispute

   Antonyms: consensus, agreement

   • 1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC ↗, folio 11, recto ↗:

     [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; [...]

• controversialist
• controvert
• controverter
• controvertible

• French: controverse, polémique
• German: Kontroverse, Meinungsverschiedenheit
• Italian: controversia
• Portuguese: controvérsia, polêmica
• Russian: спор
• Spanish: controversia, polémica