polarize

play

verb po·lar·ize \ ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of polarize

polarized; polarizing

transitive verb

1 :to cause to vibrate in a definite pattern

polarize light waves

2 :to give physical polarity to

3 :to break up into opposing factions or groupings

a campaign that polarized the electorate

4 :concentrate 1

recreate a cohesive rock community by polarizing … an amorphous, fragmented audience
—Ellen Willis

intransitive verb

:to become polarized

—

polarizability

play \ˌpō-lə-ˌrī-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

See polarize defined for English-language learners

See polarize defined for kids

Examples of polarize in a Sentence

The war has polarized the nation.
The current debate polarizes along lines of class and race.

Recent Examples of polarize from the Web

Polarized emotions around wolves further complicate things.

— joanna klein, Alaska Dispatch News, "Study: Protected wolves in Alaska face peril from beyond their preserve," 17 July 2017
Equal prize money and mixed events continue to polarize—and disrupt tour boards—but tennis is a stronger product when both men and women are together.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "50 parting thoughts from Wimbledon 2017," 15 July 2017
The marketing move, which arrived during a rather heated U.S. presidential election, was polarizing for some.

— david z. morris, Fortune, "Budweiser’s New Beer Cans Celebrate the States Where It’s Brewed," 8 July 2017
The issue of American-Indian mascots and logos has been a controversial and polarizing one across Michigan.

— lori higgins, Detroit Free Press, "Schuette: Schools can't lose state of Michigan funding for American Indian mascots," 6 July 2017
The show examines what individuals did to survive polarized, political turmoil, which feels particularly relevant right now, Ewing said.

— amy wang, OregonLive.com, "10 things to know about the 'Cabaret' national tour as it stops in Portland," 29 June 2017
The problem in Turkey—and elsewhere in the Middle East—is that as politicians purposefully polarize their own societies for political profit, there is a dearth of democratic institutions through which people can process their grievances.

— steven a. cook, The Atlantic, "Turkey's Identity Crisis," 25 June 2017
Ryan’s smallest victory margin in two decades came in 2012 when his vice presidential candidacy helped polarize his image and cost him crossover support from Democrats and independents.

— craig gilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Why Paul Ryan's race for Congress next year bears watching, even if he'll be hard to beat," 23 June 2017
There aren’t many tools that can hack through the political and financial red tape required, and that thicket has become even denser in today’s increasingly partisan and polarized political climate.

— brian straus, SI.com, "MLS expansion race began with 12, but will enough viable bids even emerge?," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'polarize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of polarize

French polariser, from New Latin polaris polar

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1811

See Words from the same year

polarize Synonyms

Synonyms

center, compact, concenter, concentrate, consolidate, centralize, unify, unite

Antonyms

decentralize, deconcentrate, spread (out)

Related Words

coordinate, harmonize, integrate, orchestrate; blend, coalesce, combine, fuse, incorporate, merge, reduce; conjoin, join, link; assemble, collect, colligate, gather; reunify, reunite

Near Antonyms

segregate, separate

POLARIZE Defined for English Language Learners

polarize

play

verb

Definition of polarize for English Language Learners

: to cause (people, opinions, etc.) to separate into opposing groups
physics : to cause (something, such as light waves) to vibrate in a particular pattern
physics : to cause (something) to have positive and negative charges : to give polarity to (something)