polarity

[ poh-lar-i-tee, puh- ]
/ poʊˈlær ɪ ti, pə- /

noun

Physics.
  1. the property or characteristic that produces unequal physical effects at different points in a body or system, as a magnet or storage battery.
  2. the positive or negative state in which a body reacts to a magnetic, electric, or other field.
the presence or manifestation of two opposite or contrasting principles or tendencies.
Linguistics.
  1. (of words, phrases, or sentences) positive or negative character.
  2. polar opposition.

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Origin of polarity

First recorded in 1640–50; polar + -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM polarity

non·po·lar·i·ty, noun

Words nearby polarity

polar wander, polari, polarimeter, polaris, polariscope, polarity, polarization, polarization charge, polarize, polarized, polarized light
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for non-polarity

  • He therefore subsequently abandoned it, and maintained the non-polarity of the diamagnetic force.

    Faraday As A Discoverer|John Tyndall

British Dictionary definitions for non-polarity

polarity
/ (pəʊˈlærɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the condition of having poles
the condition of a body or system in which it has opposing physical properties at different points, esp magnetic poles or electric charge
the particular state of a part of a body or system that has polarityan electrode with positive polarity
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

Medical definitions for non-polarity

polarity
[ pō-lăr′ĭ-tē, pə- ]

n.

The property of having two opposite poles, such as those possessed by a magnet, or of having opposite properties or characteristics.
The direction or orientation of positivity relative to negativity.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for non-polarity

polarity
[ pō-lăr′ĭ-tē ]

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.