polar

1 of 2

adjective

po·​lar ˈpō-lər How to pronounce polar (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to a geographic pole or the region around it
b
: coming from or having the characteristics of such a region
c(1)
: passing over a celestial body's north and south poles
a satellite in a polar orbit
(2)
: traveling in a polar orbit
a polar satellite
2
: of or relating to one or more poles (as of a magnet)
3
: serving as a guide
a polar principle
a polar theory
4
: diametrically opposite
polar positions on the issue
5
: exhibiting polarity
especially : having a dipole or characterized by molecules having dipoles
a polar solvent
6
: resembling a pole or axis around which all else revolves : pivotal
polar events
7
: of, relating to, or expressed in polar coordinates
polar equations
also : of or relating to a polar coordinate system

polar

2 of 2

noun

: a straight line related to a point
specifically : the straight line joining the points of contact of the tangents from a point exterior to a conic section

Examples of polar in a Sentence

Adjective They took polar positions on the issue. She and I are good friends even though we're polar opposites.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Over in Ireland, Anantara The Marker Dublin invites guests to book wild swimming sessions where a private car will take them to the blustery Irish Sea to swim with a local seasoned polar plunger. Katie Lockhart, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024 Who knew that plastic bottles could be transformed into super-soft polar fleece? Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2024 The growing team exerted a kind of gravity, drawing other scientists into the effort: archaeologists, impact specialists, chemists, geologists, a polar explorer. Zach St. George, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 The development of these patterns — a possible response to a disruption of the polar vortex — would stack the deck for colder and stormier weather in the eastern United States. Matt Rogers, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Although they are known for their polar opposite styles, the Biebers were on the same page about their footwear. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 29 Feb. 2024 In contrast, East Asian societies (notably China and Japan) are considered the polar opposite of the West, as evidenced by their emphasis on interdependence of the self with others and low individualistic orientations. Iese Business School, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The Houston company was shooting for the south polar region, near the Malapert A crater, closer to the pole than anyone else so NASA could scout out the area before astronauts show up later this decade. Marcia Dunn The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 24 Feb. 2024 Freezing temperatures:The polar vortex has left millions of Texans without power. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
In fact, over the past several years, various CBT homestays have installed everything from solar polars to showers (rather than the traditional banya, which consists of a wood stove and a steam bath). Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 And by the late 1970s, polar-orbiting satellites began gathering data as well. New York Times, 13 Dec. 2021 The median life expectancy for a polar in human care is 23.4 years, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Theresa Waldrop, CNN, 25 Sep. 2021 But her relentlessly pragmatic approach to politics is the polar opposite of, say, the Bernie Sanders approach. Michelle Goldberg, New York Times, 5 May 2020 The rainforest environment is all the more remarkable, the researchers said, considering that the region annually experiences a four-month polar night when there is no sunlight to nurture plant life. NBC News, 2 Apr. 2020 Even millions of years ago, the South Pole endured what's known as a four-month polar night when no sunlight can be seen. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 1 Apr. 2020 Herschel Island is home to moose, musk oxen and caribou; the site is one of the few places where black, polar and grizzly bears share the same habitat, per Smithsonian magazine. Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Mar. 2020 At-home polar plunges do come at a far cheaper cost, though; depending on the area, entering a cryotherapy chamber could cost you about $75 a pop. Claire Maldarelli, Popular Science, 17 Jan. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin polaris, from Latin polus pole

First Known Use

Adjective

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polar was in 1556

Dictionary Entries Near polar

Cite this Entry

“Polar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polar. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

polar

adjective
po·​lar
ˈpō-lər
1
a
: of or relating to a geographical pole or the region around it
b
: coming from or having the characteristics of a polar region
polar cold
2
: of or relating to one or more poles (as of a magnet)
3
: diametrically opposite
4
: showing polarity
water molecules are polar

Medical Definition

polar

adjective
po·​lar ˈpō-lər How to pronounce polar (audio)
1
: of or relating to one or more poles (as of a spherical body)
2
: exhibiting polarity
especially : having a dipole or characterized by molecules having dipoles
a polar solvent
3
: being at opposite ends of a spectrum of symptoms or manifestations
polar types of leprosy

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