Revised 2007
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problematicadjective & noun
Factsheet
What does the word problematic mean?
There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the word problematic. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
problematic has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
How common is the word problematic?
About 10occurrences per million words in modern written English
| 1750 | 0.034 |
| 1760 | 0.12 |
| 1770 | 0.042 |
| 1780 | 0.098 |
| 1790 | 0.16 |
| 1800 | 0.11 |
| 1810 | 0.075 |
| 1820 | 0.06 |
| 1830 | 0.059 |
| 1840 | 0.082 |
| 1850 | 0.077 |
| 1860 | 0.089 |
| 1870 | 0.15 |
| 1880 | 0.24 |
| 1890 | 0.3 |
| 1900 | 0.41 |
| 1910 | 0.52 |
| 1920 | 0.68 |
| 1930 | 0.77 |
| 1940 | 0.69 |
| 1950 | 0.94 |
| 1960 | 1.7 |
| 1970 | 3.7 |
| 1980 | 7.3 |
| 1990 | 12 |
| 2000 | 14 |
| 2010 | 14 |
How is the word problematic pronounced?
British English
/ˌprɒbləˈmatɪk/
prob-luh-MAT-ik
U.S. English
/ˌprɑbləˈmædɪk/
prah-bluh-MAD-ik
Where does the word problematic come from?
Earliest known use
early 1600s
The earliest known use of the word problematic is in the early 1600s.
OED's earliest evidence for problematic is from 1609, in Euerie Woman in her Humor.
problematic is of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: French problématique; Latin problematicus.
Nearby entries
- probiotic, adj.²1954–
- probit, n.1934–
- probit analysis, n.1944–
- probit line, n.1942–
- probit unit, n.1934–
- probity, n.c1425–
- problem, n.a1382–
- problem, v.1645–55
- problemage, n.1928–
- problematary, n.1581
- problematic, adj. & n.1609–
- problematical, adj.1567–
- problematically, adv.1588–
- problematicalness, n.1951–
- problematique, n.1970–
- problematist, n.1668–
- problematize, v.1631–
- problem child, n.1920–
- problemed, adj.1863–
- probleming, n.1657–
- problemist, n.a1631–
Etymology
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Meaning & use
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Pronunciation
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Forms
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Frequency
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Compounds & derived words
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Entry history for problematic, adj. & n.
problematic, adj. & n. was revised in June 2007.
problematic, adj. & n. was last modified in September 2024.
oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:
- further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
- new senses, phrases, and quotations.
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into problematic, adj. & n. in September 2024.
Earlier versions of this entry were published in:
OED First Edition (1908)
OED Second Edition (1989)
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Factsheet for problematic, adj. & n.
Browse entry
Nearby entries
- probiotic, adj.²1954–
- probit, n.1934–
- probit analysis, n.1944–
- probit line, n.1942–
- probit unit, n.1934–
- probity, n.c1425–
- problem, n.a1382–
- problem, v.1645–55
- problemage, n.1928–
- problematary, n.1581
- problematic, adj. & n.1609–
- problematical, adj.1567–
- problematically, adv.1588–
- problematicalness, n.1951–
- problematique, n.1970–
- problematist, n.1668–
- problematize, v.1631–
- problem child, n.1920–
- problemed, adj.1863–
- probleming, n.1657–
- problemist, n.a1631–
