'polarize' originates from modern English formation of 'polar' + suffix '-ize', where 'polar' comes via French 'polaire' and Latin 'polaris' meaning 'of or relating to the pole', and the suffix '-ize' comes from Greek via Latin/French meaning 'to make or to become'.

'polarize' changed from French 'polariser' (or English variant 'polarise') and the use of the suffix '-ize' (from Greek '-izein' through Latin/French), eventually becoming the modern English verb 'polarize'.

Initially it meant 'to make into poles' or 'to give polarity', but over time it also came to mean 'to split into opposing groups' in social and political contexts.