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unipolar

American  
[yoo-nuh-poh-ler] / ˌyu nəˈpoʊ lər /

adjective

  1. Physics.  Also having or pertaining to a single magnetic or electric pole.

  2. Anatomy.  of or relating to a nerve cell in spinal and cranial ganglia in which the incoming and outgoing processes fuse outside the cell body.


unipolar British  
/ ˌjuːnɪpəʊˈlærɪtɪ, ˌjuːnɪˈpəʊlə /

adjective

  1. of, concerned with, or having a single magnetic or electric pole

  2. (of a nerve cell) having a single process

  3. (of a transistor) utilizing charge carriers of one polarity only, as in a field-effect transistor

  4. (of nervous depression) occurring without accompanying bouts of mania

  5. dominated by one superpower, esp the United States See bipolar

"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

Other Word Forms

  • unipolarity noun

Etymology

Origin of unipolar

First recorded in 1805–15; uni- + polar

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.

While America’s "unipolar moment" would surely not "continue for centuries," its end, he predicted, “seems a long way off for now.”

From Salon

Mr. Xi focused on promoting a new world order centered around the global economic and diplomatic power of China, whose communist government has long lamented what it describes as U.S.-led “unipolar Western hegemony.”

From Washington Times

"Maintaining the unipolar dominance so beloved by American officials is no longer possible."

From Reuters

In a 30-minute diatribe, he accused Western countries of attempting to build a unipolar world.

From BBC

“No longer is our alliance partner, the United States, the unipolar leader of the Indo-Pacific,” the review notes.

From Washington Times