unipolar

adjective

uni·​po·​lar ˌyü-ni-ˈpō-lər 

1

: having or oriented in respect to a single pole: such as

a

: having or involving the use of a single magnetic or electrical pole

b

: based on or controlled by a single factor or view

China mistrusts a unipolar, U.S.-dominated world.

—Thomas A. Stewart

2

psychology : being, characteristic of, or affected by unipolar depression

unipolar depressive episodes

unipolar patients

Examples of unipolar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The United States entered its unipolar moment and Russia was busy rebuilding after the collapse of its empire. —Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024

Two decades on, the unipolar moment has faded, along with dreams of a better Middle East and American appetite for active international engagement. —Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024

Suddenly, America’s unipolar moment had arrived, and the global triumph of liberalism seemed sure to follow. —Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023

Despite its strength, the United States does not preside over a unipolar world. —Fareed Zakaria, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023

The unipolar moment appears to be over, and the emergence of new powers pursuing interests in Africa—China most prominent among them, but also Russia and middle powers such as Brazil, India, Turkey, and the Gulf monarchies—gives African leaders more choices of partners. —Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023

Analysts should therefore pay more attention to the characteristics of the U.S.-Chinese relationship than to whether the world is unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar. —Joshua Shifrinson, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2023

This move brought into stark relief a development that some experts have been predicting for years: the end of the post–Cold War, unipolar moment and the beginning of a new multipolar era, in which the United States must coexist with other powers. —Blaise Malley, The New Republic, 5 Oct. 2023

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States was left with unmatched power in what is known as the unipolar moment. —Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing unipolar

• unipolar depression
• unipolar disorder

Medical Definition

unipolar

adjective

uni·​po·​lar ˌyü-ni-ˈpō-lər 

1

: involving or being an electrode or lead attached to the surface of a bodily site (as the chest) for recording the difference in electrical potential between the site and that of another electrode or lead having zero potential

2

of a neuron : having but one process

3

: being, characteristic of, or affected by unipolar depression

unipolar depressive episodes

unipolar patients

compare bipolar