polarize

American  

[poh-luh-rahyz] / ˈpoʊ ləˌraɪz /

especially British, polarise

verb (used with object)

polarized, polarizing

1. to cause polarization in.

2. to divide into sharply opposing factions, political groups, etc..

   The controversy has polarized voters into proabortion and antiabortion groups.

3. to give polarity to.

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verb (used without object)

polarized, polarizing

1. to become polarized.

polarize British  

/ ˈpəʊləˌraɪz /

verb

1. to acquire or cause to acquire polarity

2. to acquire or cause to acquire polarization

   to polarize light

3. to cause people to adopt extreme opposing positions

   to polarize opinion

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polarize Scientific  

/ pō′lə-rīz′ /

1. 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.

2. To magnetize a substance so that it has the properties of a magnetic dipole, such as having a north and south pole.

3. 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.

4. See more at polarization

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Other Word Forms

• depolarize
  verb (used with object)
• nonpolarizable
  adjective
• polarizability
  noun
• polarizable
  adjective
• repolarize
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of polarize

First recorded in 1805–15; polar + -ize

Explanation

To polarize is to divide. Something that's been polarized has been split into two sides that are so different, it seems as though they're from opposite ends of the earth — like the North Pole and the South Pole. Political parties have long been polarized by different views and approaches to government. But you'll also find polarized soda devotees arguing over the merits of Coke vs. Pepsi. Any topic that is controversial can polarize a population, especially if the topic inspires either a fiercely "pro" or fiercely "con" reaction. Topics such as gun control and health care reform have been known to polarize Congress.

Example Sentences

That’s because the monarch positions himself above politics and tries to be as uncontroversial as possible—a figure to unify rather than polarize.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

They are made of dielectric materials that polarize on the application of the voltage.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2024

I admired their desire to try to use media to show messy nuance and truths to bring people together, especially at a time when so many documentaries seem designed to polarize and demonize people.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2023

The plan, sure to polarize the sport, addresses a growing concern by some that the game is getting too long.

From Washington Post • Mar. 14, 2023

In these the ophitic arrangement of the coarse feldspars is well defined, and in spite of their subsequent alteration the fragments retain the crystal outlines and polarize together.

From History and Comprehensive Description of Loudoun County, Virginia by Head, James William

Related Words

• part
• separate