multipolar

adjective

mul·​ti·​po·​lar ˌməl-tē-ˈpō-lər 

-ˌtī-

1

: having several poles (see pole entry 3)

a multipolar generator

multipolar mitoses

2

: having several dendrites

multipolar neurons

3

: characterized by more than two centers of power or interest

a multipolar world

multipolarity

ˌməl-tē-pō-ˈler-ə-tē 

-ˈla-rə-tē, 

-ˌtī-

noun

Examples of multipolar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But that flow is quickly reversing as Asia, once an arms importer, is now emerging as a hardware manufacturer and arms exporter, driving the global defense industry in a more multipolar world. — Chris Oberoi, Fortune, 24 June 2026

At the same time, Russia is becoming increasingly tied to China, within a much more multipolar world order—a phenomenon partially caused by a disoriented West. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 June 2026

Russia and China have repeatedly pushed the idea that the future of geopolitics is multipolar. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2026

In the emerging multipolar world, the ultimate reserve currency may not be the dollar. — Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for multipolar

• ambipolar
• areolar
• bronchiolar
• circumpolar
• equimolar
• monopolar
• nucleolar
• unipolar
• vacuolar
• arteriolar
• microcontroller
• bipolar

Medical Definition

multipolar

adjective

mul·​ti·​po·​lar ˌməl-ti-ˈpō-lər  -ˌtī- 

1

: having several poles

multipolar mitoses

2

: having several dendrites

multipolar nerve cells

multipolarity

-pō-ˈlar-ət-ē 

noun

plural multipolarities