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Meaning & use

opposite polarity

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˌɒpəzɪt pəˈlærəti/
US/ˌɑːpəzɪt pəˈlærəti/

Meanings

  1. noununcountabletechnical

    the state of having two ends or sides with opposite electrical or magnetic charges.

    Grammar: Uncountable in this technical sense; it often follows 'have' or 'be in': 'The ends have opposite polarity.'

    Patterns

    • have opposite polarity
    • be in opposite polarity
    • opposite polarity to something
    • connect something with opposite polarity

    The two ends of a magnet have opposite polarity.

    Make sure the batteries are placed with opposite polarity.

    In this circuit, the wires carry opposite polarity, so they attract each other.

  2. noununcountablefigurative

    a situation in which two things are completely different or opposed in character.

    Grammar: Figurative use; often appears in phrases like 'at opposite polarity' or 'of opposite polarity'.

    Patterns

    • be at opposite polarity
    • of opposite polarity
    • opposite polarity to something

    Their political views are at opposite polarity, so they rarely agree.

    The two proposals were of opposite polarity and could not be combined.

Common combinations

have opposite polarity
The two poles of the battery have opposite polarity.
be placed with opposite polarity
The cells must be placed with opposite polarity for the device to work.
attract due to opposite polarity
The metal pieces attract due to opposite polarity.
at opposite polarity
The two speakers were at opposite polarity on the issue.

Synonyms and how they differ

reverse polarity
This means the polarity has been changed or is the wrong way around, often by mistake; 'opposite polarity' simply describes two things being opposite.
opposite charge
This is more specific to electricity and is used for particles; 'opposite polarity' is used for ends, poles, and wires.

Opposites

same polarity

Word family

polarity noun
The general quality of having two opposite poles or charges.
polar adjective
Having two opposite ends or charges, as in a polar molecule.
polarize verb
To give something polarity, or to divide people into two opposing groups.

Commonly confused: opposite polarity or polarity? opposite polarity or polarization?

opposite polarity vs polarity

Polarity is the general state of having two opposite ends; 'opposite polarity' describes two things that are opposite to each other.

opposite polarity vs polarization

Polarization is the process of gaining polarity or the result of people dividing into opposing groups; it is not the same as the simple phrase 'opposite polarity'.

Practice

The two ends of the magnet have ______, so they attract each other.

Make it your own

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