- 1[intransitive, transitive] to separate or make people separate into two groups with completely opposite opinions Public opinion has polarized on this issue. polarize something The issue has polarized public opinion.
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
- 2[transitive] polarize something (physics) to make waves of light, etc. vibrate in a single direction
- 3[transitive] polarize something (physics) to give polarity to something to polarize a magnet
polarize
verbNAmE//ˈpoʊləˌraɪz//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they polarize he / she / it polarizes
past simple polarized
-ing form polarizing
NAmE//ˌpoʊlərəˈzeɪʃn//
noun [uncountable, countable]See polarize in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: polarize