polyvalent

[ pol-ee-vey-luhnt, puh-liv-uh-luhnt ]

/ ˌpɒl iˈveɪ lənt, pəˈlɪv ə lənt /

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adjective

Chemistry. having more than one valence.

Bacteriology. (of an immune serum) containing several antibodies, each capable of reacting with a specific antigen.

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Origin of polyvalent

First recorded in 1880–85; poly- + -valent

OTHER WORDS FROM polyvalent

pol·y·va·lence, noun

Words nearby polyvalent

polytypic, polyunsaturate, polyunsaturated, polyurethane, polyuria, polyvalent, polyvinyl, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use polyvalent in a sentence

The general use of the present commercial polyvalent protective against influenza is not considered desirable.
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2|Various
The complement fixation test is like a Wassermann reaction, but the antigen should be polyvalent.
The Ethics of Medical Homicide and Mutilation|Austin O'Malley
A polyvalent vaccine contains several strains of the infective agent and a mixed contains several different organisms.
The Fundamentals of Bacteriology|Charles Bradfield Morrey
Commercial vaccines are stock vaccines and are usually polyvalent or even mixed.
The Fundamentals of Bacteriology|Charles Bradfield Morrey

British Dictionary definitions for polyvalent

polyvalent

/ (ˌpɒlɪˈveɪlənt, pəˈlɪvələnt) /

adjective

chem having more than one valency

(of a vaccine)

effective against several strains of the same disease-producing microorganism, antigen, or toxin
produced from cultures containing several strains of the same microorganism

Derived forms of polyvalent

polyvalency, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for polyvalent

polyvalent

[ pŏl′ē-vā′lənt ]

Acting against or interacting with more than one kind of antigen, antibody, toxin, or microorganism.

Having more than one valence. Iron and manganese are polyvalent elements.