an issue that is likely to cause division between the members of a group
wedge issue in American English
noun
an issue that divides or causes conflict in an otherwise unified group
Abortion is a wedge issue for the Republican party
Word origin
[1990–95]This word is first recorded in the period 1990–95. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Megan's Law, body double, copay, macarena, molecular knife
Examples of 'wedge issue' in a sentence
wedge issue
Observers expect less emphasis on the brand and more on 'wedge' issues.