# controversy

> English word · Noun · IPA /kənˈtɹɒv.ə.si/ · frequency rank #4,591

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

## 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 vorsusder.
Latin versus
Latin contrōversus
Proto-Indo-European *-yós
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”).

## Common misspellings (18)
`ccontroversy`, `cnotroversy`, `conntroversy`, `conrtoversy`, `contorversy`, `controevrsy`, `controverrsy`, `controverssy`, `controversyy`, `controverys`, `controvesry`, `controvresy`, `controvversy`, `contrroversy`, `contrvoersy`, `conttroversy`, `cotnroversy`, `ocntroversy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/controversy