'controversialist' originates from English formation combining 'controversial' (from Latin 'controversia') with the agentive suffix '-ist' (from Greek/Latin via French), where 'controversia' meant 'dispute' or 'controversy'.

'controversia' (Latin) gave rise to Late Latin/Old French forms relating to 'controversy' and the adjective 'controversial' in Middle English; the agentive suffix '-ist' was then attached in English to form 'controversialist'.

Initially associated simply with 'one involved in a dispute' (from Latin), it evolved into the modern sense of 'a person who habitually engages in or promotes controversial debate', emphasizing argumentative or polemical activity.