polemic

noun

po·​lem·​ic pə-ˈle-mik 

1

a

: an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another

b

: the art or practice of disputation or controversy

—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction

2

: an aggressive controversialist : disputant

polemicist

pə-ˈle-mə-sist 

noun

Did you know?

Diatribe, jeremiad, philippic … the English language sure has a lot of formal words for the things we say or write when we are—to use a decidedly less formal term—big mad. We will refrain from going on a tirade about it, however, especially since it’s good to have options with subtle differences in tone and meaning. Polemic, which traces back ultimately to the Greek word for war, polemos, is the word you want to refer specifically to an aggressive attack on someone’s ideas or principles. Someone who is cheesed off because they don’t like cheese, for example, wouldn’t write a polemic about it. A turophile upset about the gustatory philosophy behind their local cheesemonger’s recent offerings just might.

Examples of polemic in a Sentence

Her book is a fierce polemic against the inequalities in our society.

They managed to discuss the issues without resorting to polemics.

Recent Examples on the Web

The question distinguishes the essay from the less adventurous forms of expository prose—the dissertation, the polemic, the article, the campaign speech, the tract, the op-ed, the arrest warrant, the hotel bill. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 19 Aug. 2024

Biologist Paul Ehrlich appeared on The Tonight Show to tout The Population Bomb, his 1968 polemic about human numbers run amok. —Ben Goldfarb, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

Hailing from the Company Flow school of post-apocalyptic rap deconstruction, the New Yorkers smash together surrealism and polemic in songs whose harmonious soul samples belie an inescapable sense of dread. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 13 Sep. 2024

Less structured discussions of controversial ideas often devolve into vociferous polemics that can often be described as arguments. —Blake D. Morant, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French polémique, from Middle French, from polemique controversial, from Greek polemikos warlike, hostile, from polemos war; perhaps akin to Greek pelemizein to shake, Old English ealfelo baleful

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

polemic

noun

po·​lem·​ic pə-ˈlem-ik 

: an aggressive attack on the opinions or beliefs of another

polemical

-ˈlem-i-kəl

adjective

also polemic

polemically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb