polemic (puh-LEM-ik, poh-) noun

1. A controversial argument.

2. A person who engages in arguments or controversy; a controversialist.

adjective, also polemical

Of or pertaining to a controversy or argument.

[From Greek polemikós, from pólemos (war). A related word is polemology
(the science and study of human conflict and war).] {e.a.}


I was really surprised to see the second definition of this familiar term – I might have recognised polemicist, or polemic used in an adjectival sense such as:

“Her bulimic figure attracted the polemic youth.”

However I would have up to now stopped short and re-read a sentence like “He’s a polemic”. I see from various dictionaries Anu’s def seems widely recognised, but.

Did this strike anyone else as odd ~ comments?