polar

American  

[poh-ler] / ˈpoʊ lər /

adjective

1. of or relating to the North or South Pole.

2. of or relating to the pole of any sphere, a magnet, an electric cell, etc.

3. opposite in character or action.

   The two have personalities that are polar.

4. capable of ionizing, as NaCl, HCl, or NaOH; electrolytic; heteropolar.

5. central; pivotal.

   the polar provision of the treaty.

6. analogous to the polestar as a guide; guiding.

   a polar precept.

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polar British  

/ ˈpəʊlə /

adjective

1. situated at or near, coming from, or relating to either of the earth's poles or the area inside the Arctic or Antarctic Circles

   polar regions

2. having or relating to a pole or poles

3. pivotal or guiding in the manner of the Pole Star

4. directly opposite, as in tendency or character

5. chem

   1. Also: heteropolar.  (of a molecule or compound) being or having a molecule in which there is an uneven distribution of electrons and thus a permanent dipole moment

      water has polar molecules

   2. (of a crystal or substance) being or having a crystal that is bound by ionic bonds

      sodium chloride forms polar crystals

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polar Scientific  

/ pō′lər /

1. Relating to a pole, such as the pole of a magnet or one of the electrodes of an electrolytic cell.

2. Relating to the North Pole or the South Pole of Earth, or analogous regions of another planet.

3. Relating to a molecule or substance that has polar bonds.

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Other Word Forms

• antipolar
  adjective
• transpolar
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of polar

From the Medieval Latin word polāris, dating back to 1545–55. See pole ², -ar ¹

Explanation

The idea of polar suggests equal opposites. For example, the North and South Poles are at opposite ends of the planet, and both are equally glacial, or very cold, which, by the way, is another meaning of polar. The English word polar derives from the Latin polus and the Greek polos, which means "axis." (See the connection with the North and South Poles?) The discovery of polar bears was first recorded in the mid-18th century, while the idea of "polar opposites" came about in 1832. The adjective polar is also used to describe something vitally important, an idea that came from the importance of Polaris, the North Star, which has always been a voyager’s guide.

Example Sentences

As a business, bowling is private equity’s polar opposite in that its values are primarily community-based.

From Salon • Jul. 3, 2026

To investigate the phenomenon, the team studied 50 rivers across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the world's largest high-altitude cryosphere outside the polar regions.

From Science Daily • Jun. 20, 2026

The event was registered by seismic devices nearly a thousand miles away, as far as Sweden’s polar region, according to the Swedish seismologist Björn Lund.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

“In an eventual post-crisis world, a multi- polar environment lends itself to a much more gold-positive one. Additionally, many of the undercurrents that drove gold prices higher remain intact, albeit on pause,” he added.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

“Well observed, Duane the polar bear,” said C.C., which made Duane feel very proud.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Related Words

• freezing
• frigid
• glacial
• icy