problematic

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”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌpɹɒblɛˈmætɪk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌpɹɑblɛˈmætɪk/

problematic

1. Posing a problem; having or suffering from problem(s):
   1. Difficult to overcome, solve, or decide.
      • 2010, The Future of Energy Use:

        However, estimating what consumers will pay in the future is problematic.

   2. Not settled, uncertain, of uncertain outcome; debatable, questionable, open to doubt.

      a problematic analysis

      it portends a problematic future for the movement

   3. Contributing (usually implicitly or subtly) to systemic discrimination (such as racism, sexism, homophobia, or transphobia).
      • 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

• problem

problematic (plural problematics)

1. (chiefly in the plural) A problem or difficulty in a particular field of study.

Borrowed from French problématique, Late Latin problematicus.

• IPA^(key): /pro.bleˈma.tik/

problematic m or n (feminine singular problematică, masculine plural problematici, feminine and neuter plural problematice)

1. problematic

• problemă