unpolarized
|un-po-la-rized|
🇺🇸
/ʌnˈpoʊləˌraɪzd/
🇬🇧
/ʌnˈpəʊləˌraɪzd/
(unpolarize)
not having polarity
Etymology
'unpolarized' originates from English, specifically the word 'unpolarize', where the prefix 'un-' meant 'not' and 'polarize' meant 'to give or exhibit polarity (to make polar).
'polarize' derived from Middle French 'polariser' and modern French 'polariser', ultimately from Late Latin 'polaris' (from Latin 'polus' meaning 'pole'); 'un-' was added in English to form 'unpolarize', and then the past/adjective form 'unpolarized' developed in modern English.
Initially related forms like 'polarize' meant 'to give polarity or to concentrate around poles'; over time 'polarize' took on both physical (optical/electrical) and figurative (to divide into opposing groups) senses. 'Unpolarized' has retained the basic sense 'not possessing polarization' but is used in both technical and occasional figurative contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past participle form of 'unpolarize' — made (something) not polarized or removed polarization from (something).
The researchers reported that the sample was unpolarized after treatment.
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Adjective 1
not exhibiting or having polarization; lacking a preferred orientation of oscillation or charge separation (used especially of light, electromagnetic waves, or materials).
The light from the lamp was unpolarized before passing through the polarizer.
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Last updated: 2025/11/21 21:23