bipolar
Americanadjective
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having two poles, as the earth.
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of, relating to, or found at both polar regions.
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characterized by opposite extremes, as two conflicting political philosophies.
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Electronics. of or relating to a transistor that uses both positive and negative charge carriers.
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Psychiatry. of, relating to, or having bipolar disorder.
His wife is bipolar.
adjective
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having two poles
a bipolar dynamo
a bipolar neuron
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relating to or found at the North and South Poles
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having or characterized by two opposed opinions, natures, etc
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(of a transistor) utilizing both majority and minority charge carriers
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suffering from bipolar manic-depressive disorder
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Relating to or having two poles or charges.
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Relating to a semiconductor device, such as a transistor, that exploits the electrical characteristics of contact between two substances, one with an inherent positive charge, the other with an inherent negative charge.
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Relating to or involving both of the Earth's polar regions.
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Relating to a neuron that has two processes or extremities.
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Relating to bipolar disorder.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bipolar
Explanation
The prefix "bi-" means two, so bipolar means having two opposing poles. Often, this is the name of a type of mental illness. Anything with two poles or opposites can be considered bipolar. The yin and yang symbol (black and white or male and female) is an example of bipolar or opposing natures. However, this term is used most often to describe bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, which is when you experience very high highs and very low lows with your emotions. The negative and positive charge on a neuron or a transistor can also be called bipolar.
Vocabulary lists containing bipolar
It Takes Two: Bi
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Our America
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: bi-
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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.
Brosseau has tried nearly every treatment available to people like herself with bipolar disorder and PTSD, she said, from behavioural therapy and medication to electric shocks to the brain.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Turner, labeled “Captain Outrageous” for his erratic behavior, had once been thought to have bipolar disorder.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
They discovered that, unlike the polar filaments formed by similar systems in other bacteria, the filaments in Anabaena are bipolar, meaning they can grow and shrink from both ends.
From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026
He attributed his controversial behaviour to a "manic episode" brought on by bipolar disorder.
From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026
It was in this state that I first heard the term bipolar disorder.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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.
