multivalent

American  

[muhl-ti-vey-luhnt, muhl-tiv-uh-luhnt] / ˌmʌl tɪˈveɪ lənt, mʌlˈtɪv ə lənt /

adjective

1. Chemistry. having a valence of three or higher.

2. Immunology.

   1. containing several kinds of antibody.

   2. pertaining to an antibody that contains many antigen-binding sites.

   3. pertaining to an antibody that has many determinants.

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multivalent British  

/ ˌmʌltɪˈveɪlənt /

adjective

1. another word for polyvalent

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multivalent Scientific  

/ mŭl′tĭ-vā′lənt,mŭl-tĭv′ə-lənt /

1. Polyvalent.

2. Relating to the association of three or more homologous chromosomes during the first division of meiosis.

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Other Word Forms

• multivalence noun
• multivalency noun

Etymology

Origin of multivalent

First recorded in 1870–75; multi- + -valent

Example Sentences

Built through a bottom-up molecular engineering strategy, they combine tightly controlled size with a defined number of surface ligands to create a multivalent platform with highly specific interactions at cellular receptors.

From Science Daily • Oct. 30, 2025

“Unleashed” partakes in some of these themes and transformations, though their engine is a multivalent form of grief.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 31, 2022

“Bivalent and multivalent vaccines are very common, and modifying a vaccine to include different virus strains often does not require a change in other ingredients,” Dr. Califf wrote.

From Washington Times • Aug. 29, 2022

It is also testing bivalent and multivalent vaccines, meaning they’re aimed at different strains of the virus.

From Seattle Times • May 27, 2022

Which is of course idiotic in the kind of profound and multivalent way that only an English teacher could fully elucidate.

From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan