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

Clancy suffers from bipolar II disorder, a classification of the disorder that is not associated with mania, according to a diagnosis by Heilbrun. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026

Suez became a shorthand for the demise of the European empires and the passage from a multipolar world to the bipolar Cold War–era system. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Her attorneys say her condition seemed to worsen on the psychiatric medications, some of them problematic for bipolar patients. — Michael Casey, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

The suspect, Ashlie Jeremie, was allegedly homeless, off his bipolar meds, with a history of violence. — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026

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