polarity

[ poh-ler-uh-tee, puh- ]
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noun
  1. Physics.

    • the property or characteristic that produces unequal physical effects at different points in a body or system, as a magnet or storage battery.

    • the positive or negative state in which a body reacts to a magnetic, electric, or other field.

  2. the presence or manifestation of two opposite or contrasting principles or tendencies.

  1. Linguistics.

    • (of words, phrases, or sentences) positive or negative character.

Origin of polarity

1
First recorded in 1640–50; polar + -ity

Other words from polarity

  • non·po·lar·i·ty, noun

Words Nearby polarity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use polarity in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for polarity

polarity

/ (pəʊˈlærɪtɪ) /


nounplural -ties
  1. the condition of having poles

  2. the condition of a body or system in which it has opposing physical properties at different points, esp magnetic poles or electric charge

  1. the particular state of a part of a body or system that has polarity: an electrode with positive polarity

  2. the state of having or expressing two directly opposite tendencies, opinions, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for polarity

polarity

[ pō-lărĭ-tē ]


  1. The condition of having poles or being aligned with or directed toward poles, especially magnetic or electric poles.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.