{
    "term": "controversy",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "academic": true,
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "public discussion and argument about something that many people strongly disagree about, think is bad, or are shocked by",
            "sensetop": "controversy (over/about/surrounding somebody/something)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to **arouse/cause controversy**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a bitter **controversy over/about** the site of the new airport"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The controversy surrounding his latest movie continues."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The President resigned amid considerable controversy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Controversy exists as to how safe these drugs are."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Controversy is raging over the route of the new motorway."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has resigned amid continuing controversy over his expense claims."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His views have excited a lively controversy among fellow scientists."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Ms Benjamin, who is no stranger to controversy herself, said the scandal could have serious repercussions."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Much controversy surrounds the new exam."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Public funding could resolve the controversy surrounding campaign finance."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The book raised a storm of controversy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The controversy centred on the issue of compensation for the victims."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The minister has resigned amid continuing controversy over his education proposals."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The network ran into controversy over claims of faked documentary footage."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The president seemed anxious to avoid controversy about these appointments."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The singer deliberately courts controversy with his racist and sexist lyrics."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There has been a lot of controversy over the use of these drugs."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This year's championships have been dogged by controversy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Today, the controversy continues over whether Shakespeare wrote all his plays."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What they are doing is bound to stir up controversy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "controversy among historians"
                },
                {
                    "text": "controversy between the two leaders"
                },
                {
                    "text": "her long-running controversy with fellow academics"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the bitter controversy surrounding the introduction of the new regulations"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is a subject that always causes controversy."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["considerable", "great", "major"],
                "verb + controversy": ["arouse", "cause", "create"],
                "controversy + verb": ["arise", "break out", "erupt"],
                "preposition": [
                    "amid controversy",
                    "controversy about",
                    "controversy concerning"
                ],
                "phrases": [
                    "a matter of controversy",
                    "a source of controversy",
                    "a subject of controversy"
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈkɒntrəvɜːsi//kənˈtrɒvəsi/",
                "audio": "xc/controversy/xcontroversy__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈkɑːntrəvɜːrsi/",
                "audio": "xc/controversy/xcontroversy__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Latin controversia, from controversus ‘turned against, disputed’, from contro- (variant of contra- ‘against’) + versus, past participle of vertere ‘to turn’."
}