puh-LEM-ih-kul

Definition

(adjective) Relating to or involving strong, controversial argument or debate; characterized by aggressive dispute or refutation

Example

The professor’s polemical lecture on economic inequality divided the auditorium cleanly between those who cheered and those who walked out.

Word Origin

Polemical derives from the Greek polemikos, meaning “warlike” or “hostile,” from polemos (“war”). It entered English in the 17th century as a theological and philosophical term, describing fierce written disputes between religious factions — before broadening to cover any form of aggressive intellectual combat.