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
Derived Forms
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polarizabilitynoun
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depolarizeverb (used with object)
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repolarizeverb (used with object)
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nonpolarizableadjective
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polarizableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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polarizesimple
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polarizessimple
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have polarizedperfect
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has polarizedperfect
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am polarizingprogressive
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are polarizingprogressive
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is polarizingprogressive
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have been polarizingperfect progressive
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has been polarizingperfect progressive
Past
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polarizedsimple
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had polarizedperfect
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was polarizingprogressive
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were polarizingprogressive
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had been polarizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of polarize
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.
Vocabulary lists containing polarize
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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.
See Examples For:
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
They are made of dielectric materials that polarize on the application of the voltage.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 25, 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 Garrett, Randall
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
A nerve impulse opens the K+ channel, which makes K+ enter the cell and polarizes the membrane.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
If kept in continuous service for any length of time the cell soon polarizes or “runs down,” but will recuperate after remaining on open circuit for some little time.
From Hawkins Electrical Guide, Number One Questions, Answers, & Illustrations, A Progressive Course of Study for Engineers, Electricians, Students and Those Desiring to acquire a Working Knowledge of Electricity and its Applications by Hawkins, Nehemiah
“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
The interview quickly racked up over 1.1 million views in less than 24 hours and was accompanied by a flood of YouTube comments praising Owens for humanizing addiction and bringing hope to a polarized nation.
From Salon ● May 23, 2026
Wendy’s first quarter U.S. same-store sales fell 7.8%, with shares down 65% over three years, facing a polarized market.
From Barron's ● May 20, 2026
Inmates also had somewhat polarized reactions to Cradle.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
Big personalities like Rousey and Conor McGregor helped him do it: both great fighters in their own right, both polarizing entertainers capable of generating big headlines.
From Slate ● Jun. 14, 2026
Elon Musk's SpaceX was set to begin trading on the Nasdaq exchange Friday with the biggest initial public offering in history expected to make the polarizing entrepreneur the world's first trillionaire.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
The company went into the unveiling with its eyes open about the polarizing design, using the Luce to expand the definition of what makes a Ferrari unique.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
The fact that she’s so polarizing is, in its way, a recommendation.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 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
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.
