adversarial

Probably from adversary +‎ -al

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌæd.vəˈsɛə.ɹi.əl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌæd.vɚˈsɛɹ.i.əl/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˌæd.vəˈseː.ɹi.əl/

adversarial (comparative more adversarial, superlative most adversarial)

1. Characteristic of, or in the manner of, an adversary; combative, hostile, opposed.
   • 2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times‎:

     In polling by the Pew Research Center in November 2008, fully half the respondents thought the two parties would cooperate more in the coming year, versus only 36 percent who thought the climate would grow more adversarial.

   • 2021 June 2, “Network News: Simplification, not nationalisation”, in RAIL, number 932, page 9:

     The White Paper therefore aims to tackle complexity rather then ownership of the railways, and to eliminate "the adversarial relationships between operators, suppliers, NR and government".

2. (law) In which issues are tried through the presentation of evidence and argument by adverse parties, with no or limited inquiry by the court's own initiative.

   Canada uses an adversarial system of criminal justice, whereas France uses an inquisitorial model.

• cooperative

adversarial m or f (masculine and feminine plural adversariales)

1. (law) adversarial