bipolar

adjective

bi·​po·​lar (ˌ)bī-ˈpō-lər 

1

: having or marked by two mutually repellent forces or diametrically opposed natures or views

2

a

: having or involving the use of two poles or polarities

bipolar generators

bipolar ECG leads

b

electronics : relating to, being, or using a transistor in which both electrons and holes (see hole entry 1 sense 1b(3)) are utilized as charge carriers (see carrier sense 2e)

3

: relating to, associated with, or occurring in both polar (see polar entry 1 sense 1a) regions

bipolar species of birds

4

psychology : being, characteristic of, or affected with a bipolar disorder

bipolar patients

bipolarity

ˌbī-pō-ˈler-ə-tē 

-ˈla-rə-

noun

bipolarization

(ˌ)bī-ˌpō-lə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

bipolarize

(ˌ)bī-ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz 

transitive verb

Examples of bipolar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to forensic psychologists and criminal defense attorneys, patients at Mendota more often live with mental health disorders such as bipolar and paranoid schizophrenia. —Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024

For instance, a patient with bipolar I disorder is not fully autonomous during the middle of a manic episode. —Maria Kulp, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2024

But the revisionist challenges the United States faces now pale in comparison to those faced by the most powerful countries in multipolar and bipolar eras. —Joshua Shifrinson, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2023

The children at Trails Carolina have diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders. —Tyler Kingkade, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024

But Intra-Cellular’s treatment, already approved for schizophrenia and bipolar depression, could have a leg up on past contenders, Adam explains in a detailed preview of the company’s upcoming results. —Damian Garde, STAT, 21 Mar. 2024

The danger comes from her husband, August, Benzini’s possibly bipolar owner and ringmaster. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024

And my husband and I have a daughter, Courtney, who is 16 years sober and bipolar. —Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Feb. 2024

Toyota plans to construct these as bipolar batteries, where the active materials for the anode and cathode are on either side of a common electrode carrier rather than having separate electrodes for each. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing bipolar

• bipolar disorder
• bipolar illness

Kids Definition

bipolar

adjective

bi·​po·​lar

(ˌ)bī-ˈpō-lər

1

: having or involving two poles

2

: having or marked by two mutually repellent forces or wholly opposed natures or views

3

: being, characteristic of, or affected with a bipolar disorder

bipolarity

ˌbī-​pō-​ˈler-​ə-​tē

noun

Medical Definition

bipolar

1 of 2 adjective

bi·​po·​lar

(ˈ)bī-ˈpō-lər

1

: involving or being electrodes or leads attached to two different bodily sites (such as the arms and legs) for recording the difference in electrical potential between the two sites

bipolar encephalograph leads

2

of a neuron : having an efferent and an afferent process

3

: being, characteristic of, or affected with a bipolar disorder

bipolar depression

bipolar patients

compare unipolar

bipolar

2 of 2 noun

: a person affected with bipolar disorder