bivalent

1 of 2

adjective

bi·​va·​lent (ˌ)bī-ˈvā-lənt  ˈbī-və- 

1

chemistry : having a valence of two : divalent

bivalent calcium

2

genetics : associated in pairs in synapsis

bivalent chromosomes

3

immunology : having two combining sites

a bivalent antibody capable of binding to two molecules of an antigen

4

medical : conferring immunity to two diseases or two serotypes

a bivalent vaccine

bivalent

2 of 2

noun

: a pair of synaptic chromosomes

Examples of bivalent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This is a switch from the current formula, which is bivalent, targeting both the spike protein from the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 strain and the previous leading omicron subvariants BA.4/5 (which share a spike protein). —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 15 June 2023

The study’s findings don’t diminish the need for continued screenings for early detection of cervical cancers caused by HPV types that were not targeted in the original bivalent vaccine, said Palmer, but the vaccines effectively targeted the more aggressive strains of HPV (16 and 18). —Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 25 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1934, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

bivalent

1 of 2 adjective

bi·​va·​lent (ˈ)bī-ˈvā-lənt 

1

a

: divalent

bivalent calcium

b

: having two combining sites

a bivalent antibody capable of binding to two molecules of an antigen

2

: associated in pairs in synapsis

bivalent chromosomes

3

: conferring immunity to two diseases or two serotypes

a bivalent vaccine protecting against hepatitis A and hepatitis B

bivalent

2 of 2 noun

: a pair of synaptic chromosomes