W o t D - Polemic

Pronunciation: pê-lem-ik •

Part of Speech: Noun


Meaning: A heated controversy, especially an argument over doctrine or ideology.

Notes:The adjective is polemical; the adverb, polemically. A person who engages in polemics is a polemicist [pê-lem-ê-sist] who polemicizes. A good polemicist is one who argues rationally. Polemicists engage in polemics, the art of arguing controversial points about politics or religion. Polemics is a singular noun in a class with linguistics and physics, so it may be used with a singular verb: "Polemics is not my cup of tea."

In Play: Often we think of polemics as a derogatory term but it isn't by any means: "Martin Luther King is remembered as a courageous and articulate polemicist who fought indefatigably for minority civil rights." We in the US have heard enough polemics for this year during the two political conventions: "It is difficult to distinguish the two political parties in the US on the basis of their polemics."