Controversial means splitting people into loud opposing camps. A controversial decision, highly controversial, a controversial figure.
It says nothing about whether the thing is right — a controversial view can be correct and an uncontroversial one wrong. In news writing, controversial is often used to signal disapproval while appearing neutral, which is why careful editors watch for it. Note controversy, which is stressed on the first syllable in America and on either in Britain, a difference people have argued about for decades and therefore controversially.
1adjectivecontroversialSplitting people into loud opposing camps.
“The new law on immigration is highly controversial.”
controversial is a quality of dividing opinion.
Latin controversia is contra, against, plus versus, turned — turned against. A controversy is people turned to face each other, which is a better picture than argument gives.
Latin
contrōversiālis
English, today
controversial
From Latin contrōversiālis, from contrōversia + -ālis. by surface analysis, controversy + -al.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA