'polemicist' originates from Modern English, formed from 'polemic' + the agent suffix '-ist', where Greek 'polemikos' (from 'polemos') meant 'warlike' and 'war'.

'polemic' came into English via Latin and French from Greek 'polemikos' (πολεμικός); the noun form 'polemic' (meaning a controversial or aggressive argument) entered English, and the agentive suffix '-ist' was later added to form 'polemicist'.

Initially related to 'war' or 'warlike' (in Greek), the sense shifted to 'argumentative' or 'combative in argument' and now denotes a person who engages in forceful controversy or debate.