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

Alarming reports trickled out during The Valley’s hiatus, mostly about Jax: his cocaine addiction; his stint in rehab, during which Brittany filed for divorce; his diagnosis, after years of Bravo fans’ armchair psychoanalysis, of bipolar and PTSD; a second rehab stay. —Judy Berman, Time, 13 Aug. 2025

Indian policymakers see no viable alternatives: the world is not reverting to a unipolar world order led by the United States; an alliance is not on offer in a bipolar world of competing American and Chinese blocs; and a bipolar condominium of China and the United States would marginalize India. —Nirupama Rao, Foreign Affairs, 30 July 2025

The text on the opposite page reveals that, after a manic episode, Danielle spent thirty days in a mental hospital and was diagnosed as bipolar. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 July 2025

Of the people identified as homeless, 20% were formally diagnosed with a serious mental illness: schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, major depressive disorder or bipolar and related disorders. —Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing bipolar

• bipolar disorder
• bipolar illness

Rhymes for bipolar

• comptroller
• controller
• dipolar
• gaoler
• nonpolar
• premolar
• ambipolar
• areolar
• bronchiolar
• circumpolar
• equimolar
• monopolar

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