Word a Day
polemic
What does polemic mean?
polemic (noun): a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce polemic?
/pəˈlɛmɪk/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does polemic come from?
From French polémique, from Ancient Greek πολεμικός (polemikós, “of war”), from πόλεμος (pólemos, “war”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “polemic”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “polemic” mean?
a poetic form with regular meter and a fixed rhyme scheme
Not quite: that's what verse means.
a failure, particularly one which is mechanical in nature
Not quite: that's what breakdown means.
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
Right! That's what “polemic” means.
an intensity of feeling; an excited interest or eagerness
Not quite: that's what enthusiasm means.
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