polarize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to cause polarization in.
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to divide into sharply opposing factions, political groups, etc..
The controversy has polarized voters into proabortion and antiabortion groups.
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to give polarity to.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to acquire or cause to acquire polarity
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to acquire or cause to acquire polarization
to polarize light
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to cause people to adopt extreme opposing positions
to polarize opinion
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To separate or accumulate positive and negative electric charges in two distinct regions. Polarized objects have an electric dipole moment and will undergo torque when placed in an external electric field.
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To magnetize a substance so that it has the properties of a magnetic dipole, such as having a north and south pole.
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To cause the electrical and magnetic fields associated with electromagnetic waves, especially light, to vibrate in a particular direction or path. The transverse electric and magnetic waves always vibrate at right angles to each other, but in ordinary unpolarized light sources, the direction of polarization of each wave is randomly distributed. Light can be polarized by reflection, and by passing through certain materials.
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See more at polarization
Other Word Forms
- depolarize verb (used with object)
- nonpolarizable adjective
- polarizability noun
- polarizable adjective
- repolarize verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of polarize
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Best known as one-half of reality TV’s most polarizing couple on “The Hills,” Pratt built a reputation as a needling instigator, often leaning into the role of villain with annoying enthusiasm.
From Los Angeles Times
“The way I look, dress and talk — I’m polarizing,” he says.
From Los Angeles Times
The peripatetic, polarizing basketball coach steers St. John’s to its first Sweet 16 in 27 seasons.
Strong interactions between the layers lead to very different transmission behaviors for left- and right-circularly polarized light under "normal incidence," or polarized light that hits perpendicular to the surface.
From Science Daily
While Musk remains a polarizing figure with the general public, Tesla shareholders have consistently backed the billionaire.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
