Polarization
noun
The action of separating something into two opposing groups.
The political polarization of the country is causing a lot of friction between people.
Often appears as...
- political polarization
- social polarization
noun
In physics, it is the production of a state in which waves of light, sound, or particles show different properties in different directions.
The polarization of light can be used to filter out certain wavelengths.
Often appears as...
- light polarization
- plane polarization
Usage tips
Technical
noun
In electronics, it is the alignment of atoms in materials, causing an electrical field.
The polarization of a dielectric material determines its effectiveness as an insulator.
Often appears as...
- dielectric polarization
- ionic polarization
Usage tips
Technical
noun
In sociology, it is the process by which the differences between social classes become more extreme.
Economic polarization is increasing in many societies, leading to a wider gap between the rich and the poor.
Often appears as...
- socio-economic polarization
- gender polarization
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The action of separating something into two opposing groups.
The political polarization of the country is causing a lot of friction between people.
Often appears as...
- political polarization
- social polarization
noun
In physics, it is the production of a state in which waves of light, sound, or particles show different properties in different directions.
The polarization of light can be used to filter out certain wavelengths.
Often appears as...
- light polarization
- plane polarization
Usage tips
Technical
noun
In electronics, it is the alignment of atoms in materials, causing an electrical field.
The polarization of a dielectric material determines its effectiveness as an insulator.
Often appears as...
- dielectric polarization
- ionic polarization
Usage tips
Technical
noun
In sociology, it is the process by which the differences between social classes become more extreme.
Economic polarization is increasing in many societies, leading to a wider gap between the rich and the poor.
Often appears as...
- socio-economic polarization
- gender polarization
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Modern Politics
Used to describe increasing gaps in political ideas, often causing social tensions.
The debate highlighted the polarization between the two political parties.
Pro Tip 2/3Context Sensitivity
Ensure context aligns with social or political divisions to use this term appropriately.
Polarization is evident in discussions about healthcare reform.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity
When used in social contexts, it implies strong, possibly negative emotions and conflict.
Social media often contributes to the polarization of public opinion.
Pro Tip 1/3Modern Politics
Used to describe increasing gaps in political ideas, often causing social tensions.
The debate highlighted the polarization between the two political parties.
Pro Tip 2/3Context Sensitivity
Ensure context aligns with social or political divisions to use this term appropriately.
Polarization is evident in discussions about healthcare reform.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity
When used in social contexts, it implies strong, possibly negative emotions and conflict.
Social media often contributes to the polarization of public opinion.
Pro Tip 1/3Modern Politics
Used to describe increasing gaps in political ideas, often causing social tensions.
The debate highlighted the polarization between the two political parties.
Pro Tip 2/3Context Sensitivity
Ensure context aligns with social or political divisions to use this term appropriately.
Polarization is evident in discussions about healthcare reform.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity
When used in social contexts, it implies strong, possibly negative emotions and conflict.
Social media often contributes to the polarization of public opinion.
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Video examples
I grew up in the...
And just as I learned to do, we routinely refuse to acknowledge the flaws in our positions or the merits in our opponent's. Compromise is anathema. We even target people on our own side when they dare to question the party line. This path has brought us cruel, sniping, deepening polarization,
Video examples
Will automation take...
what economists call employment polarization, is that it knocks out rungs in the economic ladder, shrinks the size of the middle class and threatens to make us a more stratified society. On the one hand, a set of highly paid, highly educated professionals doing interesting work,
Video examples
The making of cosmic...
accuracy soon we'll be measuring the polarization as well as the temperature as a cosmologists I have the privilege of trying to understand what the universe was like in the beginning how it changes with time and I get to map the incredible journey it has taken to get us here
Video examples
Photo Walk in Napa...
is it helps get rid of reflections and it does that by limiting the kinds of wavelengths that can come into an image and it screws right onto the front of the lens right here so what you do to change the polarization of the light is you just twist the polarizer right and
Video examples
Why Brexit happened --...
And what we see around the world today is a tragic polarization, a failure to have dialogue between the extremes in politics, and a gap in terms of that liberal center ground that can encourage communication and a shared understanding. We might not achieve that today,
Video examples
How polarity makes water...
when you try to walk on water? And why do lakes freeze from the top down in winter? In a word, the answer to all these questions is polarity. Water is a simple molecule made up of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, but it is essential to life.
Video examples
Do politics make us...
it can lead to policies that aren’t grounded in truth or reason. This problem isn’t new— political identities have been around for centuries. But studies show that partisan polarization has increased dramatically in the last few decades.
Video examples
We the People, and the...
I can only find cheese. I'm sorry. So there it is. Block reform. Because there is an economy here, an economy of influence, an economy with lobbyists at the center which feeds on polarization. It feeds on dysfunction.
Video examples
Dear Facebook, this is...
I felt I had to say yes. I had no illusions that I would fix it all, but when offered the opportunity to help steer the ship in a better direction, I had to at least try. I didn't work directly on polarization,
Video examples
How to have better...
So you probably have the sense, as most people do, that polarization is getting worse in our country, that the divide between the left and the right is as bad as it's been in really any of our lifetimes.
Video examples
I grew up in the...
And just as I learned to do, we routinely refuse to acknowledge the flaws in our positions or the merits in our opponent's. Compromise is anathema. We even target people on our own side when they dare to question the party line. This path has brought us cruel, sniping, deepening polarization,
Video examples
Will automation take...
what economists call employment polarization, is that it knocks out rungs in the economic ladder, shrinks the size of the middle class and threatens to make us a more stratified society. On the one hand, a set of highly paid, highly educated professionals doing interesting work,
Video examples
The making of cosmic...
accuracy soon we'll be measuring the polarization as well as the temperature as a cosmologists I have the privilege of trying to understand what the universe was like in the beginning how it changes with time and I get to map the incredible journey it has taken to get us here
Video examples
Photo Walk in Napa...
is it helps get rid of reflections and it does that by limiting the kinds of wavelengths that can come into an image and it screws right onto the front of the lens right here so what you do to change the polarization of the light is you just twist the polarizer right and
Video examples
Why Brexit happened --...
And what we see around the world today is a tragic polarization, a failure to have dialogue between the extremes in politics, and a gap in terms of that liberal center ground that can encourage communication and a shared understanding. We might not achieve that today,
Video examples
How polarity makes water...
when you try to walk on water? And why do lakes freeze from the top down in winter? In a word, the answer to all these questions is polarity. Water is a simple molecule made up of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, but it is essential to life.
Video examples
Do politics make us...
it can lead to policies that aren’t grounded in truth or reason. This problem isn’t new— political identities have been around for centuries. But studies show that partisan polarization has increased dramatically in the last few decades.
Video examples
We the People, and the...
I can only find cheese. I'm sorry. So there it is. Block reform. Because there is an economy here, an economy of influence, an economy with lobbyists at the center which feeds on polarization. It feeds on dysfunction.
Video examples
Dear Facebook, this is...
I felt I had to say yes. I had no illusions that I would fix it all, but when offered the opportunity to help steer the ship in a better direction, I had to at least try. I didn't work directly on polarization,
Video examples
How to have better...
So you probably have the sense, as most people do, that polarization is getting worse in our country, that the divide between the left and the right is as bad as it's been in really any of our lifetimes.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Joichi Ito
Japanese Businessman
I agree that it is not just the extremists who harbor bad thoughts or engage in bad acts, but they are usually the source of the polarization and try to keep education and communication of the main stream from moving forward.
Quote examples
Joy Page
American Actress
People desire to separate their worlds into polarities of dark and light, ugly and beautiful, good and evil, right and wrong, inside and outside. Polarities serve us in our learning and growth, but as souls we are all.
Quote examples
John Skipper
American Businessman
With the polarization of points of view around significant political and social issues, sports is a place where people can sort of talk about something together. And I think that is important to people.
Quote examples
Thomas E. Mann
American Sociologist
In addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major political parties.
Quote examples
Jonathan Van Ness
American Entertainer
From the extreme political polarization that is everywhere - there's so much suffering going on - so many people are really thirsty to feel good about something.
Quote examples
Pete Gallego
American Politician
As the polarization in D.C. spreads, the people willing to come to the middle find less and less acceptance.
Quote examples
Pieter Zeeman
Dutch Physicist
The rotation of the polarization plane is extraordinarily small in all gases, thus also in sodium vapour.
Quote examples
Bernice King
American
My father provided some very important guidance in how we deal with conflict and polarization.
Quote examples
Rahul Gandhi
Indian Politician
Hatred, anger, and violence can destroy us: the politics of polarization is dangerous.
Quote examples
Leslie Odom, Jr.
American Actor
It's about polarization. You're trying to stir up something in your audience.
Quote examples
Joichi Ito
Japanese Businessman
I agree that it is not just the extremists who harbor bad thoughts or engage in bad acts, but they are usually the source of the polarization and try to keep education and communication of the main stream from moving forward.
Quote examples
Joy Page
American Actress
People desire to separate their worlds into polarities of dark and light, ugly and beautiful, good and evil, right and wrong, inside and outside. Polarities serve us in our learning and growth, but as souls we are all.
Quote examples
John Skipper
American Businessman
With the polarization of points of view around significant political and social issues, sports is a place where people can sort of talk about something together. And I think that is important to people.
Quote examples
Thomas E. Mann
American Sociologist
In addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major political parties.
Quote examples
Jonathan Van Ness
American Entertainer
From the extreme political polarization that is everywhere - there's so much suffering going on - so many people are really thirsty to feel good about something.
Quote examples
Pete Gallego
American Politician
As the polarization in D.C. spreads, the people willing to come to the middle find less and less acceptance.
Quote examples
Pieter Zeeman
Dutch Physicist
The rotation of the polarization plane is extraordinarily small in all gases, thus also in sodium vapour.
Quote examples
Bernice King
American
My father provided some very important guidance in how we deal with conflict and polarization.
Quote examples
Rahul Gandhi
Indian Politician
Hatred, anger, and violence can destroy us: the politics of polarization is dangerous.
Quote examples
Leslie Odom, Jr.
American Actor
It's about polarization. You're trying to stir up something in your audience.
Example 1 of 10
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