polyvalent

[pol-ee-vey-luh nt, puh-liv-uh-luh nt]

adjective

Chemistry. having more than one valence.

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

Origin of polyvalent

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

Related formspol·y·va·lence, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for polyvalent

Historical Examples of polyvalent

A polyvalent vaccine contains several strains of the infective agent and a mixed contains several different organisms.
The Fundamentals of Bacteriology
Charles Bradfield Morrey
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

British Dictionary definitions for polyvalent

polyvalent

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 Formspolyvalency, 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

Word Origin and History for polyvalent

adj.

1881, from poly- + -valent, from Latin valentem, present participle of valere "be worth" (see valiant). Coined by German chemist Emil Erlenmeyer (1825-1909), who also designed the flask that bears his name.

polyvalent in Medicine