polarity

noun

po·​lar·​i·​ty pō-ˈler-ə-tē How to pronounce polarity (audio)
pə-,
-ˈla-rə-
plural polarities
1
: the quality or condition inherent in a body that exhibits opposite properties or powers in opposite parts or directions or that exhibits contrasted properties or powers in contrasted parts or directions : the condition of having poles
2
: attraction toward a particular object or in a specific direction
3
: the particular state either positive or negative with reference to the two poles or to electrification
4
a
: diametrical opposition
b
: an instance of such opposition

Examples of polarity in a Sentence

the polarity of the candidates' views on the issue means that the voters have a clear choice to make
Recent Examples on the Web Magnetic fields with opposite polarities can cancel each other out and make a U-turn, shooting off in a new direction. Rebecca Boyle, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 The average 16/17-year-old is so tightly wound with reversed polarities that the whole joint could blow at any time. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2023 Migration occurs when increasing numbers navigate to the opposite polarity, and panic is where everyone runs for the exit at once. Caleb Richter, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 Where does polarity stem from? Polarizing narratives are fed to us naturally–not only in politics, but also in areas such as sports, marketing, music, and mainstream media. Morgan Mercer, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2023 As all these sunspots form and fizzle, the tiny leftover charges gradually build up at the poles and cancel out their polarity. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2023 And by focusing on polarity, experts can track how international politics changes over time. Joshua Shifrinson, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2023 The optimization problem is mapped to the strength and polarity of these connections. IEEE Spectrum, 23 Sep. 2023 In the last solar cycle, for example, the polarity of the sun’s northern hemisphere started to reverse in early June 2012 and then wavered around the neutral point until late 2014, even though the southern hemisphere transitioned smoothly to the opposite polarity in mid-2013. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polarity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of polarity was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near polarity

Cite this Entry

“Polarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polarity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

polarity

noun
po·​lar·​i·​ty pō-ˈlar-ət-ē How to pronounce polarity (audio)
pə-
plural polarities
1
: the condition of having poles and especially magnetic or electrical poles
2
: attraction toward a particular object or in a specific direction

Medical Definition

polarity

noun
po·​lar·​i·​ty pō-ˈlar-ət-ē, pə- How to pronounce polarity (audio)
plural polarities
1
: the quality or condition inherent in a body that exhibits contrasting properties or powers in contrasting parts or directions
2
: attraction toward a particular object or in a specific direction
3
: the particular state either positive or negative with reference to the two poles or to electrification

More from Merriam-Webster on polarity

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