con ‧ tro ‧ ver ‧ sy AC /ˈkɒntrəvɜːsi, kənˈtrɒvəsi $ ˈkɑːntrəvɜːrsi/ BrE AmE noun ( plural controversies ) [uncountable and countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ controversy ; adverb : ↑ controversially ; adjective : ↑ controversial ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: controversia , from controversus 'disagreed about' , from contro- 'against' + versus 'turned' ]
a serious argument about something that involves many people and continues for a long time:
a political controversy
the controversy surrounding Skinner’s theories
cause/provoke/arouse controversy
The judges’ decision provoked controversy.
controversy over/about
the controversy over campaign-finance issues
Controversy arose (=began) over the use of the chemicals on crops.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ political/religious controversy
The agreement attracted a lot of political controversy.
▪ public controversy (=among the ordinary people of a country)
His book sparked off a public controversy about the issue.
▪ great/major controversy
That decision was the second major controversy of the Prime Minister's career.
▪ fierce controversy (=very great)
This question has been at the centre of a fierce controversy.
▪ bitter controversy (=involving very angry feelings)
The strike was called off, amid bitter controversy.
▪ a lot of controversy
There's been a lot of controversy about the term 'victim'.
■ verbs
▪ cause controversy
His speech caused great controversy.
▪ arouse/provoke/excite controversy (=cause it)
Locke aroused considerable controversy with his suggestion.
▪ spark (off) controversy (=cause it)
The new rules are likely to spark more controversy.
▪ fuel controversy (=add to it)
England's manager fuelled controversy with his criticism of the referee.
▪ be dogged by controversy (=cause controversy in a way that is a problem)
Even before it was introduced, the system was dogged by controversy.
▪ be embroiled in a controversy (=be involved in one)
A film company became embroiled in a controversy over the title of one of its movies.
▪ be surrounded by controversy
The circumstances of her death were surrounded by controversy.
▪ avoid controversy
So far, the scheme has avoided controversy.
▪ controversy surrounds something
the controversy surrounding modern farming methods
▪ controversy arises
Some controversy arose over the safety of the vaccination.
■ phrases
▪ a matter/subject of controversy
The right age to vote is a matter of controversy.
▪ a storm of controversy
Since its release, the film has met a storm of controversy.
▪ the centre of a controversy
The idea became the centre of a bitter controversy.