Definition of divisive in US English: divisive
adjective Tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people.
‘the highly divisive issue of abortion’
More example sentences
‘The Trade Ministers will attempt to build bridges in the divisive but linchpin issue of farm trade.’ ‘It was an important declaration of principle on one of the most divisive political issues of the day.’ ‘The abortion issue has opened up the historically divisive issue to wider debate.’ ‘On such a divisive issue, the candidates owe it to the military to tell us where they stand.’ ‘Now they're at it again, casting around for a racially or socially divisive issue.’ ‘Their similarities override their differences, and yet in these towns race has become a divisive issue.’ ‘The bottom line is that the IFA is content to avoid what it considers to be a divisive issue.’ ‘It is therefore no surprise that the party always looks for divisive issues.’ ‘It is the most divisive issue in British politics and has been for over a decade.’ ‘They are difficult, divisive issues, but they can not be avoided any longer.’ ‘Abortion has always been a very polarising, divisive issue that is irreconcilable.’ ‘Race is a very divisive issue and if they managed to get a seat it would be very bad news for everyone in the area.’ ‘So few words yet they have led to one of the most divisive issues in our country.’ ‘She said she would listen to the people in order to achieve a consensus on the potentially divisive issue.’ ‘As we've seen lately in campus politics, some issues can be ideologically divisive.’ ‘The success of the EU has been its ability to find cohesion on even the most divisive of issues.’ ‘The debate over climate change is certain to become the most divisive issue at the Gleneagles summit.’ ‘During the talks held earlier this year, the time frames were among the most divisive issues.’ ‘That avenue would be open, that divisive issue would be out there for years to come, and it would not be fixed.’ ‘For at its heart this election has highlighted the thorny, divisive issue of what that flag stands for.’ Origin Mid 16th century (as a noun denoting something that divides or separates): from late Latin divisivus, from Latin dividere (see divide).
Pronunciation divisive /dəˈvaɪsɪv/ /dəˈvīsiv/