polemic

[ puh-lem-ik, poh- ]
/ pəˈlɛm ɪk, poʊ- /

noun

a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.
a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist.

adjective

Also po·lem·i·cal. of or relating to a polemic; controversial.

Origin of polemic

1630–40; < Greek polemikós of or for war, equivalent to pólem(os) war + -ikos -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM polemic

Words nearby polemic

poleax, poleaxe, polecat, poleis, polemarch, polemic, polemicize, polemics, polemist, polemize, polemology

Example sentences from the Web for nonpolemical

  • On the nonpolemical side, the Bulgarian media discuss both Bulgaria's immediate social problems and issues that affect the world.

    Area Handbook for Bulgaria |Eugene K. Keefe, Violeta D. Baluyut, William Giloane, Anne K. Long, James M. Moore, and Neda A. Walpole

British Dictionary definitions for nonpolemical

polemic
/ (pəˈlɛmɪk) /

adjective Also: po'lemical

of or involving dispute or controversy

noun

an argument or controversy, esp over a doctrine, belief, etc
a person engaged in such an argument or controversy

Derived forms of polemic

polemically, adverb polemicist (pəˈlɛmɪsɪst) or polemist (ˈpɒlɪmɪst), noun

Word Origin for polemic

C17: from Medieval Latin polemicus, from Greek polemikos relating to war, from polemos war