polarity

noun

po·​lar·​i·​ty pō-ˈler-ə-tē 

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

Synonyms

• contrariety
• contrariness
• oppositeness
• opposition

Example Sentences

the polarity of the candidates' views on the issue means that the voters have a clear choice to make

Recent Examples on the Web

The result of such a massive shift in polarity is wild space weather that includes solar flares, solar winds traveling at high speeds, and coronal mass ejections. —Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 10 Mar. 2023

There was a crazy polarity in terms of audience response. —Radhika Menon, ELLE, 6 May 2023

Second, the same voltage pulse applied with opposite polarity to an NVM may not change the cell's conductance by the same amount; its response is asymmetric. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 Nov. 2021

But Charlotte Le Bon’s striking, stylish, sweetly scary debut reverses the polarity, putting the wittily observed tale of a teenage crush front and center of a ghoul-free horror film, where all that goes bump in the night is an embarrassed kid trying to clean his sheets after a wet dream. —Jessica Kiang, Variety, 4 June 2022

The sunspots themselves have magnetic polarity. —Curtis Roelle, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 10 Apr. 2021

At this time, the polarity of the Sun's overall magnetic field reverses. —Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2023

The last time this happened was around 2013 during Solar Cycle 24, when the sun’s north and south poles flipped their polarities. —Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 10 Mar. 2023

These maps were imaged by the Big Bear Solar Observatory in California, and show variations in the magnetic polarity over fine scales, with negative poles in darker patches and positive poles in lighter ones, giving the images a salt-and-pepper appearance. —Katrina Miller, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing polarity

• polarity therapy

• polarity therapy

Kids Definition

polarity

noun

po·​lar·​i·​ty pō-ˈlar-ət-ē 

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- 

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