polarize

[ poh-luh-rahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, po·lar·ized, po·lar·iz·ing.

1. to cause polarization in.
2. to divide into sharply opposing factions, political groups, etc.:

   The controversy has polarized voters into proabortion and antiabortion groups.

3. to give polarity to.

verb (used without object)

, po·lar·ized, po·lar·iz·ing.

1. to become polarized.

polarize

/ ˈpəʊləˌraɪz /

verb

1. to acquire or cause to acquire polarity
2. to acquire or cause to acquire polarization

   to polarize light

3. to cause people to adopt extreme opposing positions

   to polarize opinion

polarize

/ pō′lə-rīz′ /

1. To separate or accumulate positive and negative electric charges in two distinct regions. Polarized objects have an electric dipole moment and will undergo torque when placed in an external electric field.
2. To magnetize a substance so that it has the properties of a magnetic dipole, such as having a north and south pole.
3. To cause the electrical and magnetic fields associated with electromagnetic waves, especially light, to vibrate in a particular direction or path. The transverse electric and magnetic waves always vibrate at right angles to each other, but in ordinary unpolarized light sources, the direction of polarization of each wave is randomly distributed. Light can be polarized by reflection, and by passing through certain materials.
4. See more at polarization

Derived Forms

• ˈpolarˌizable, adjective

Other Words From

• po·lar·iz·a·ble [poh-l, uh, -, rahy, -z, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• po·lar·iz·a·bil·i·ty [poh-l, uh, -rahy-z, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• de·po·lar·ize verb (used with object) depolarized depolarizing
• non·po·lar·iz·a·ble adjective
• re·po·lar·ize verb (used with object) repolarized repolarizing

Word History and Origins

Origin of polarize¹

First recorded in 1805–15; polar + -ize

Example Sentences

These collisions cause them to polarize away from each other and move in opposite directions.

From Science Daily

Instead of building social programs, he has used populist tactics like his daily propaganda show to obfuscate and polarize.

From Los Angeles Times

“The opposition is doing better than expected and it appears that Modi’s party is rattled. That’s the reason you see Modi ramping up anti-Muslim rhetoric to polarize voters.”

From Seattle Times

They are made of dielectric materials that polarize on the application of the voltage.

From Science Daily

In the end, "it turned out that yes, you can actually valley polarize bulk materials that are central symmetric, because of the symmetry conditions," concludes Poborska.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• part
• separate