English → Latin
“controversial” in Latin
contrōversuscontroversial, debatable, disputed; turned against or in the opposite directioncontrōversiōsushighly controversial, subject to much dispute
The English word controversial itself goes back to Latin contrōversus, through contrōversiālis.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
controversial
controversus et plenus dissensionis (Cic., of a subject): pugnax et quasi bellatorius (Plin., Ep., 7, 9, 7, pugnax hic et quasi bellatorius stilus): controversus (that which is controverted; e.g., jus controversum, Cic., also that is fond of controversy, quod esset acuta illa gens et controversa natura, Cic.) [controversialis only Sidonius: controversiosus, Liv. controversiosa res, a thing in dispute: controversiosa res, Sen., a disputed point]. Controversial theology, *theologiae ea pars, quae se in discrepantium opinionum disceptatione jactat (Fr. Jacobs): *theologia controversa (after jus controversum, Cic.): or *theologia controversa et plena dissensionis (after Cic.): *controversiae theologicae (after controversiae scholasticae, Quint.).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for controversial?
- The usual Latin words for “controversial” are contrōversus, contrōversiōsus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.