How Do You Spell CONTROVERSIAL?

Pronunciation: [kˌɒntɹəvˈɜːʃə͡l] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "controversial" is often a challenge for English language learners due to its complex pronunciation. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl/. The tricky part comes in the pronunciation of the "trovers" section, which sounds like "truhv-uhz." The emphasis is on the second syllable, and there is a slight "sh" sound at the end. Understanding the IPA transcription can help learners pronounce "controversial" correctly and avoid confusion when using this word in speech or writing.

CONTROVERSIAL Meaning and Definition

  1. Controversial is an adjective that describes something or someone that elicits strong opposing opinions, disagreement, or debate. It refers to a subject, event, statement, or person that is likely to cause controversy or stir up public argument.

    Controversial issues often provoke intense discussions, as they tend to invoke strong emotions and conflicting perspectives among individuals or groups. These matters typically involve conflicting viewpoints, differing interests, or moral, political, social, or ethical considerations.

    What makes a topic or person controversial can vary based on cultural, social, or historical contexts. While some topics may always be considered controversial due to the fundamental disagreements they generate, others may become controversial upon emerging as significant societal or political concerns.

    In the realm of politics, controversial policies or decisions are often those that generate disagreement or criticism from various factions. Controversial figures are individuals whose beliefs, actions, or statements provoke opposing reactions and attract intense scrutiny.

    Media sources, such as newspapers, television shows, or websites, sometimes focus on controversial stories, as they tend to capture public attention and generate discussions. Controversial subjects in art, literature, or entertainment often deal with provocative or thought-provoking themes that challenge societal norms or beliefs.

    The term "controversial" should not be interpreted as inherently negative or positive. It simply signifies that a particular subject or person is likely to create disagreement or debate due to the diverse viewpoints and strong opinions it arouses in different individuals or groups.

  2. Relating to disputes.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for CONTROVERSIAL *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for CONTROVERSIAL

Etymology of CONTROVERSIAL

The word "controversial" dates back to the early 17th century and originated from the Latin word "controversialis", which is derived from the Latin words "controversia" (dispute, disagreement) and "controversus" (turned against, disputed). The Latin term "controversialis" was further influenced by the earlier Latin term "controversus", which was a combination of "contra" (against) and "versus" (turned). Thus, the etymology of "controversial" suggests a term that is connected to a dispute or controversy in which opposing viewpoints are turned against each other.

Similar spelling words for CONTROVERSIAL

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