polarity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “polarity” mean?
The state of having two opposite or contradictory tendencies, opinions, or principles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of having two opposite or contradictory tendencies, opinions, or principles.
The direction of a magnetic or electric field; the property of having poles; the presence of two directly contrasting qualities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences in usage.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in academic and political discourse in the UK due to parliamentary opposition structure.
Grammar
How to Use “polarity” in a Sentence
polarity between X and Ypolarity of XX polarityto reverse the polarity of XVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe market fragmentation or opposing strategies: 'The polarity between traditional retail and e-commerce is stark.'
Academic
Common in sociology, politics, and physics: 'The study examines the polarity of public opinion on the issue.'
Everyday
Used to describe strong disagreements: 'There's a real polarity in our family over this.'
Technical
Precise meaning in electronics and physics regarding positive/negative charges or magnetic poles: 'Check the battery's polarity before connecting.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “polarity”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “polarity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “polarity”
- Using 'polarity' as a synonym for 'problem' or 'issue'. Confusing 'polarity' (state) with 'polarization' (process).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Polarity implies a specific, direct, and often extreme opposition between two poles, not just any difference.
Typically, no. The core concept is binary (two poles). For multiple opposing factions, terms like 'fragmentation' or 'multipolarity' are used.
'Polarity' is the *state* of having two opposite poles. 'Polarization' is the *process* of moving towards or creating that state.
It is neutral but often carries a negative connotation in social contexts, implying division and conflict.
The state of having two opposite or contradictory tendencies, opinions, or principles.
Polarity is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Polarity: in British English it is pronounced /pə(ʊ)ˈlarɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /poʊˈlærəti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “reverse the polarity”
- “poles apart (conceptually related)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Earth's North and South POLES – they are the ultimate example of POLARITY.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPPOSITION IS MAGNETIC POLARITY (e.g., 'they were drawn to opposite poles of the argument').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'polarity' used MOST precisely?