polyvalent

1 of 2

adjective

poly·​va·​lent ˌpä-lē-ˈvā-lənt 

also

pə-ˈli-və-lənt 

1

: having a chemical valence greater usually than two

2

: effective against, sensitive toward, or counteracting more than one toxin, microorganism, or antigen

polyvalent vaccines

polyvalence

ˌpä-lē-ˈvā-lən(t)s 

also

pə-ˈli-və-lən(t)s 

noun

polyvalence

2 of 2

noun

poly·​valence

variants or polyvalency

¦pälē, 

-lə̇+

: the state of being polyvalent

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

International Scientific Vocabulary

Noun

polyvalence International Scientific Vocabulary, from polyvalent, after such pairs as English absent : absence; polyvalency from polyvalent + -cy

First Known Use

Adjective

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for polyvalent

• hexavalent
• monovalent
• multivalent
• pentavalent
• tetravalent
• univalent
• assailant
• covalent
• divalent
• inhalant

Medical Definition

polyvalent

adjective

poly·​va·​lent ˌpäl-i-ˈvā-lənt 

1

a

: having a chemical valence greater usually than two

b

: having variable valence

2

: effective against, sensitive toward, or counteracting more than one exciting agent (as a toxin or antigen)

a polyvalent vaccine

polyvalence

-lən(t)s 

noun