polarized

[ poh-luh-rahyzd ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a medium that exhibits polarization.
2. (of an electric plug or outlet) designed so that the plug and outlet fit together in only one way.

Other Words From

• non·polar·ized adjective
• un·polar·ized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polarized¹

First recorded in 1920–25; polarize + -ed ²

Example Sentences

That flash point foretells an America becoming more polarized the hotter things get, more sharply divided between its rural and urban communities and more hateful and more dangerous.

From Salon

Aside from increased competition, media companies are seeing advertisers become more skittish about running their ads in news programming, as they are turned off by the vitriol and divisiveness in the current polarized political landscape.

From Los Angeles Times

In a Seoul cafe with sweeping river views, South Korean media production company owner Jeon Ji, 35, said she had never seen such a polarized political climate.

From Los Angeles Times

But she also worries that in today’s polarized climate, election officials doing their due diligence to properly count the vote will be misinterpreted as opportunities for fraud.

From Los Angeles Times

In the latest New York Times/Siena College poll, Harris is winning 9% of Republican voters, which is surprisingly high in these polarized times.

From Salon

Related Words

• contradictory