con·tro·ver·sion \ˈkän.trəˌvərzhən also -rsh-\noun (-s) Etymology: Medieval Latin controversion-, controversio, alteration of Latin controversia controversy 1.obsolete: controversy 2.: the act of controverting < an argument in controversion of an assertion > 3.[Latin controversus + English -ion]: a turning in the opposite direction < a general controversion in ethics >