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

Now, the world has gotten so multipolar, polarized and atomized. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025

Iran, a principal challenger to U.S. influence in the East—alongside powers such as China and Russia—has long positioned itself as part of an emerging multipolar order countering Washington's dominance. —MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025

Toward a multipolar world In recent years, a new multipolar world has emerged with at least four distinct sources of power. —John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025

India insists that a multipolar world requires a multipolar Asia. —Shyam Saran, Time, 10 Sep. 2025

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