polarize

verb

po·​lar·​ize ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz 

polarized; polarizing; polarizes

transitive verb

1

: to cause to vibrate in a definite pattern

lenses that polarize light waves

2

: to give physical polarity to

exposure to an electric field can polarize a piece of iron

sunglasses with polarized lenses

3

: to break up into opposing factions or groups

a campaign that polarized the electorate

4

: concentrate sense 1

… re-create a cohesive rock community by polarizing what has become an amorphous, fragmented audience.

—Ellen Willis

intransitive verb

: to become polarized

polarizability

ˌpō-lə-ˌrī-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

polarized adjective

polarized sunglasses

a polarized political climate

Examples of polarize in a Sentence

The war has polarized the nation.

The current debate polarizes along lines of class and race.

Recent Examples on the Web

With political beliefs more polarized than ever, holiday gatherings can become tense when family members with opposing viewpoints sit around the same table. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025

Five flat shoe styles, which also included Prada’s Collapse Re-Nylon and suede sneaker and The Row’s polarizing Dune flip-flop, were among the 10 hottest products reported in the Q2 2025 Lyst Index, marking the style one of the highest trending shoes for the year. —Tara Larson, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025

This limits the voltage that develops across the coils when the current is cut off by just enough so that the magnetometer can shift from polarizing to listening mode quickly but without causing damage. —David Schneider, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2025

These powers weren’t grabbed so much as they were pushed onto the court by a political system too polarized – and in some cases too self-interested – to act. —Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French polariser, from New Latin polaris polar

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for polarize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

polarize

verb

po·​lar·​ize ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz 

polarized; polarizing

1

: to cause to vibrate (as light waves) in a definite pattern

2

: to give physical polarity to

3

: to break up into opposing groups

4

: to become polarized

polarization noun

Medical Definition

polarize

verb

po·​lar·​ize

variants also British polarise

ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz 

polarized also British polarised; polarizing also British polarising

transitive verb

1

: to cause (as light waves) to vibrate in a definite pattern

2

: to give physical polarity to

intransitive verb

: to become polarized