adj
Common
polar
POH-luh
Polar (adj) means relating to, or near, the North or South Pole. Example: “The expedition ship was built to cope with harsh polar conditions.”
adj
1
Relating to, or near, the North or South Pole.
"The expedition ship was built to cope with harsh polar conditions."
"Polar bears are perfectly adapted to the Arctic cold."
"Scientists study ice cores from polar regions to track climate change."
2
Describing a molecule with an uneven distribution of electrical charge.
"Oil does not mix with water because oil molecules are not polar."
"A polar bond forms when one atom pulls electrons harder than its partner."
"Water is a polar molecule, which is why it dissolves salt so well."
3
Completely opposite in nature.
"Their personalities are polar, so they rarely agree about anything."
"Hot and cold are polar ideas, yet both are part of the same scale."
"The two candidates hold polar views on the economy."
How to use polar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to the North or South Pole, to opposite electrical charge in molecules, or to completely opposite positions.
Common pairings
polar bear
polar opposite
polar ice cap
polar molecule
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Word forms
- Plural
- polars
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The expedition ship was built to cope with harsh _____ conditions.
Etymology
From Latin polaris, from polus, "pole" — ultimately from Greek polos.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for polar
See all rhymes for polar →Frequently asked questions
What does “polar” mean?
The word “polar” means relating to, or near, the North or South Pole. In plain terms, relating to the North or South Pole, to opposite electrical charge in molecules, or to completely opposite positions.
How do you pronounce “polar”?
“Polar” is pronounced POH-luh (/ˈpoʊlɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “polar” in a sentence?
Here is “polar” used in a sentence: “Polar bears are perfectly adapted to the Arctic cold.”
What part of speech is “polar”?
“Polar” is an adjective.
Where does the word “polar” come from?
The word “polar” comes from Latin. From Latin polaris, from polus, "pole" — ultimately from Greek polos.
Is “polar” a common word?
“Polar” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “polar” have?
“Polar” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to, or near, the North or South Pole.
What is the difference between "polar" and "arctic"?
"Polar" relates to either the North or South Pole and the regions around them. "Arctic" refers specifically to the North Pole region, while the Antarctic covers the South. So all arctic areas are polar, but polar can also mean antarctic.
What is the difference between a polar and a nonpolar molecule?
In chemistry, polar describes a molecule with an uneven distribution of electrical charge, giving it a slightly positive end and a slightly negative end, as in water. A nonpolar molecule has its charge spread evenly; this difference affects how substances dissolve, since polar and nonpolar substances tend not to mix.
