problematic
See also: problemàtic
English
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.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌpɹɒbləˈmætɪk/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - (General American) IPA(key): /ˌpɹɑbləˈmætɪk/
Adjective
problematic (comparative more problematic, superlative most problematic)
- Posing a problem; having or suffering from problem(s):
- Difficult to overcome, solve, or decide.
- 2010, The Future of Energy Use:
- However, estimating what consumers will pay in the future is problematic.
- 2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 79:
- The station is blessed with a cafe and staff accommodation, as it's an important crew changeover point, although this can be problematic when services are late.
- 2010, The Future of Energy Use:
- Not settled, uncertain, of uncertain outcome; debatable, questionable, open to doubt.
- 1992, Mary Romero, “Intersection of Biography and History: My Intellectual Journey”, in Maid in the U.S.A., Routledge, →ISBN, LCCN 92-90, page 1:
- The strangeness of hiring undocumented Mexican women as domestics, many of whom were no older than fifteen, seemed strange to me. It was this strangeness that raised the topic of domestic service as a question and made problematic what had previously been taken for granted.
- a problematic analysis
- it portends a problematic future for the movement
-
- (sociology) Contributing (especially if subtly) to discrimination (such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or ageism).
- 2015 April 10, Paige Tutt, Apple’s new diverse emoji are even more problematic than before: Racialized emoji insert race into texts and tweets where it never would have arisen before
- Difficult to overcome, solve, or decide.
- (logic, dated) Only affirming the possibility that a predicate be actualised.
Synonyms
- (posing a problem): difficult, troublesome, complicated, complex, involved
- (open to debate): doubtful, dubious, questionable, controversial, uncertain
Antonyms
- unproblematic
Derived terms
- unproblematic
Related terms
- problem
Translations
posing a problem
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uncertain, debatable, questionable
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contributing to systemic discrimination
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Noun
problematic (plural problematics)
- (chiefly in the plural) A problem or difficulty in a particular field of study.
- 2012 August 3, John Hurd; Ian J. Kerr, India’s Railway History: A Research Handbook (Handbook of Oriental Studies: Section Two: South Asia; 27), Leiden: Brill, →ISBN, page 1:
- However, for those who come to India’s railway history for the first time, perhaps via knowledge of other countries’ railway histories with which they want to make India-based comparisons or in pursuit of a particular problematic—for example the role of railways in economic development—this chapter may prove useful.
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Translations
problem in a particular field of study
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Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from French problématique, Late Latin problematicus. Equivalent to problemă + -atic.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /pro.bleˈma.tik/
Adjective
problematic m or n (feminine singular problematică, masculine plural problematici, feminine and neuter plural problematice)
- problematic
Declension
Declension of problematic
| singular | plural | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| masculine | neuter | feminine | masculine | neuter | feminine | ||
| nominative/ accusative | indefinite | problematic | problematică | problematici | problematice | ||
| definite | problematicul | problematica | problematicii | problematicele | |||
| genitive/ dative | indefinite | problematic | problematice | problematici | problematice | ||
| definite | problematicului | problematicei | problematicilor | problematicelor | |||