polyvalent

American  

[pol-ee-vey-luhnt, puh-liv-uh-luhnt] / ˌpɒl iˈveɪ lənt, pəˈlɪv ə lənt /

adjective

1. Chemistry. having more than one valence.

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

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polyvalent British  

/ ˌpɒlɪˈveɪlənt, pəˈlɪvələnt /

adjective

1. chem having more than one valency

2. 1. effective against several strains of the same disease-producing microorganism, antigen, or toxin

   2. produced from cultures containing several strains of the same microorganism

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polyvalent Scientific  

/ pŏl′ē-vā′lənt /

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

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

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Other Word Forms

• polyvalence noun
• polyvalency noun

Etymology

Origin of polyvalent

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

Explanation

In chemistry, an atom is polyvalent if it has a valence of two or more, allowing it to form chemical bonds and combine with multiple other atoms. Polyvalent comes from the Greek polys, "much," and the Latin valentia, "strength or capacity." Polyvalent atoms have a greater capacity to connect with others and form complex molecules. In immunology, the term polyvalent is also used for drugs, vaccines, or antibodies that can fight off more than one virus or toxin.

Example Sentences

In Nigeria what is known as a "polyvalent antivenom" is usually used to treat snakebites, which means it can be used for bites from a variety of snakes.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

“So we wanted to find a way to make it, like, polyvalent and able to target more than one drug.”

From Washington Post • Mar. 29, 2022

For several years, Bstroy has been figuring out ways to make improbable gestures probable, with clothes that anticipate needs that are primal, polyvalent and sometimes mutant.

From New York Times • Sep. 11, 2019

Welles was at the time in the grip of the semioticians: everything was polyvalent, polysemous, above all polysyllabic.

From The Guardian • Nov. 28, 2015

Now this polyvalent golden age is at risk as the Eurozone crisis deepens.

From Time • Jul. 5, 2012