polarity

[poh-ler-uh-tee, puh-]

noun

1. 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.

2. the presence or manifestation of two opposite or contrasting principles or tendencies.

3. Linguistics.

   1. (of words, phrases, or sentences) positive or negative character.

   2. polar opposition.

polarity

/ pəʊˈlærɪtɪ /

noun

1. the condition of having poles

2. the condition of a body or system in which it has opposing physical properties at different points, esp magnetic poles or electric charge

3. the particular state of a part of a body or system that has polarity

   an electrode with positive polarity

4. the state of having or expressing two directly opposite tendencies, opinions, etc

polarity

1. The condition of having poles or being aligned with or directed toward poles, especially magnetic or electric poles.

Other Word Forms

• nonpolarity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of polarity¹

First recorded in 1640–50; polar + -ity

Example Sentences

The sheer level of polarity makes agreeing on a solution extremely difficult - as does the highly emotional nature of the debate.

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"It holds a mirror up to society and talks about the divisiveness in our culture and the fact that there's so much polarity."

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Instead, that polarity motif is more thrillingly captured when Eve fends off a flamethrower with a fire hose.

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Normally, aPKC enzymes are best known for helping maintain the unique shape and structure of cells in different tissues to help facilitate their specialized functions, known as cell polarity.

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In doing so they must work though different harmonic polarities and figure out how to consolidate.

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