Looking up...
contentious issue
/kənˈtɛnʃəs ˈɪʃuː/
controversial topic
The death penalty is a contentious issue in many countries.
The death penalty is a controversial topic in many countries.
formal
An issue that provokes strong disagreement or debate.
Climate change has become a highly contentious issue worldwide.
Climate change has become a highly controversial topic worldwide.
Often used in news, academic, and political discussions to describe topics that split public opinion.
Collocations
raise a contentious issuebring up a matter that is likely to cause disagreementaddress a contentious issuediscuss or try to resolve a disputed matter
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Preposition choice
Pair the phrase with ‘on’ or ‘about’ depending on the surrounding clause: ‘a contentious issue on immigration’ or ‘a contentious issue about immigration’.
Word Origin
From Latin contentiosus ‘disputatious’, from contentio ‘dispute’, and Latin issue ‘a coming out, a matter’, from exire ‘to go out’. The phrase combines the adjective ‘contentious’ with the noun ‘issue’ to denote a disputed matter.
Usage Notes
Used for topics that divide opinion; typically appears in formal or semi‑formal contexts such as news articles, academic papers, and policy debates.
English Dictionary