polarize

American  

[poh-luh-rahyz] / ˈpoʊ ləˌraɪz /

especially British, polarise

verb (used with object)

• polarizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• polarized,
  past participle,  past
• polarizing
  present participle

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)

• polarizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• polarized,
  past participle,  past
• polarizing
  present participle

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• polarizing
  present
• polarized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• polarize
  simple
• polarizes
  simple
• have polarized
  perfect
• has polarized
  perfect
• am polarizing
  progressive
• are polarizing
  progressive
• is polarizing
  progressive
• have been polarizing
  perfect progressive
• has been polarizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• polarized
  simple
• had polarized
  perfect
• was polarizing
  progressive
• were polarizing
  progressive
• had been polarizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will polarize
  simple
• will have polarized
  perfect
• will be polarizing
  progressive
• will have been polarizing
  perfect progressive

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

See Examples For:

polarize polarizes polarized polarizing

If this spring’s “The Drama” still managed to polarize some viewers and critics with thorny yet palatable gender dynamics, “Obsession” is its dull cousin: all tell, no show.

From Salon ● Jun. 4, 2026

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

In the end, "it turned out that yes, you can actually valley polarize bulk materials that are central symmetric, because of the symmetry conditions," concludes Poborska.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2024

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

The lights of the city, coming through the wall, gave the room plenty of illumination after sunset, but the simple flick of a switch could polarize it black, allowing perfect privacy.

From Unwise Child by Randall Garrett

“If some people don’t like the car because it polarizes, that’s OK,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Predictably, however, the one topic that invariably polarizes the online community is Nazi typewriters … especially those sporting the “special key.”

From Slate ● Mar. 16, 2024

Although his career polarizes opinions in his country despite his achievements, Álvarez is revered by the majority in Guadalajara.

From Washington Times ● May 2, 2023

Still, Macy’s portfolio of businesses from Bloomingdale’s to it’s off-price Backstage and wide range of prices offer a big advantage over other retailers as consumer behavior polarizes.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 23, 2022

He uses the voice as he would use any instrumental combination, and he mixes his colors so wonderfully that he sometimes polarizes them—they no longer have any hue or scent.

From Melomaniacs by James Huneker

In death, just as in life, Dolly Parton was a rare unifier in a highly polarized America.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Chiroptical methods examine how molecules interact with polarized light.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

“I work in an institution right now that is pretty polarized because of an outside force that shall remain nameless,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

It is amazing that on this polarized court, which can agree on nothing, we got a unanimous decision that day-drinking is a good thing.

From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2026

They followed the missile’s progress through polarized windows.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Researchers polish a section of pottery until it is roughly half the width of a human hair, allowing light from a polarizing microscope to pass through it.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

The Warner Bros. film was expected to do poorly after polarizing reviews from critics and a challenging marketing campaign.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

To them, Hargitay was, prima facie, the least challenging choice amid polarizing comedians and a shrinking roster of late-night hosts.

From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026

A beef-tallow-induced identity crisis: Earlier this year, Luke Winkie set out to crack the biggest culinary mystery in America: Why has this old-fashioned cooking ingredient become so polarizing?

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026

They wore shiny, textured gray-blue suits and wide ties and sported long sideburns and slightly too large brown- tinted polarizing glasses.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Related Words

• part
• separate