English Explanatory Dictionary

problematic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Posing a problem; having or suffering from problem(s):
  2. Difficult to overcome, solve, or decide.
  3. Not settled, uncertain, of uncertain outcome; debatable, questionable, open to doubt.
  4. Contributing (especially if subtly) to discrimination (such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or ageism).
  5. Only affirming the possibility that a predicate be actualised.
noun
  1. A problem or difficulty in a particular field of study.

Pronunciation

/ˌpɹɒb.ləˈmæt.ɪk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-problematic.wav /ˌpɹɑ.bləˈmæt.ɪk/ /ˌprɔ.bləˌmæ.ʈɪk/ /ˈprɔ.blə.mə.ʈɪk/

Word forms

problematic more problematic most problematic problematics

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French problématique, from Late Latin problematicus, from Ancient Greek προβληματικός (problēmatikós), from πρόβλημα (próblēma, “outjutting, barrier, problem”), from προβάλλω (probállō, “I throw, place before”), from πρό (pró, “before”) + βάλλω (bállō, “I throw, place”). By surface analysis, problem + -atic.

Synonyms

difficult troublesome complicated complex involved doubtful dubious questionable controversial uncertain

Antonyms

unproblematic

Related words

problem

Derived words

metaproblematic multiproblematic nonproblematic problematical problematically problematicity problematicness unproblematic

Translations

Armenian: խնդրահարույց Bulgarian: проблематичен Catalan: problemàtic Czech: problematický Danish: problematisk Dutch: problematisch Esperanto: problema Finnish: ongelmallinen Finnish: problemaattinen French: problématique Georgian: პრობლემატური German: problematisch Greek: προβληματικός Hebrew: בעייתי Hungarian: bajos Hungarian: problematikus Italian: problematico Latvian: problemātisks Māori: whakararu Norman: problièmatique Polish: problematyczny Romanian: problematic Russian: проблемати́чный
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