Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense polarizes, present participle polarizing, past tense, past participle polarizedregional note: in BRIT, also use polarise
verb
If something polarizes people or if something polarizes, two separate groups are formed with opposite opinions or positions.
Missile deployment did much to further polarize opinion in Britain. [VERB noun]
As the car rental industry polarizes, business will go to the bigger companies. [VERB]
The green debate tends to polarise into science-as-saviour versus science-as-devilcamps. [VERBinto noun]
polarizedadjective
The electorate was polarized equally between two parties.
polarization (poʊləraɪzeɪʃən)uncountable noun
...an increasing polarization between the wealthy and the poor in the city. [+ between]
polarize in British English
or polarise (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
Derived forms
polarizable (ˈpolarˌizable) or polarisable (ˈpolarˌisable)
adjective
polarize in American English
(ˈpoʊləˌraɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈpolarˌized or ˈpolarˌizing
1.
to give polarity to; produce polarization in
2.
to cause to divide into two opposing groups, as through a disagreement over policy
verb intransitive
3.
to acquire polarity; specif., to separate into diametrically opposed, often antagonistic, groups, viewpoints, etc.
Derived forms
polarizable (ˈpolarˌizable)
adjective
polarizer (ˈpolarˌizer)
noun
Word origin
Fr polariser < polaire < ML polaris, polar
Examples of 'polarize' in a sentence
polarize
We shouldn't worry that we'll let the Way of Ringess, whatever that is, polarize our eternal Order.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD (1993)
But the Way of Ringess had already begun to polarize the Order.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD (1993)
"No. Normal police procedure is not to polarize a suspect; it puts people in a defensive stance.
Susan Isaacs AFTER ALL THESE YEARS (1993)
In other languages
polarize
British English: polarize VERB
If something polarizes people or if something polarizes, two separate groups are formed with opposite opinions or positions.
The incident did much to further polarize opinion.