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
: 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
Synonyms
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
David Kushner, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Meteorologists project that the rain will continue into the weekend for residents between San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, with the chance for thunderstorms increasing to 25-35% as the polar air mass continues to destabilize the atmosphere throughout the day.
—Katie Lauer, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
The polar opposites are forced to work together when the tyrannical Queen of Hearts incites a coup against Auradon, and Red and Chloe travel back in time to undo the traumatic event that set Red’s mother down her villainous path.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2024
This was geek heaven for Asher, who got to speak with specialists in planetary defense (news flash: no known asteroids are on track to hit Earth) and space resources (evidently ice on the moon’s polar caps is stirring up a lot of interest).
—Leslie Camhi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2024
Estes Park will host a polar plunge, live performances and other events through Sunday, March 17.
—Heather Mundt, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
These creatures then mated with grizzly bears, creating another generation of bears with both polar and grizzly DNA.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Indeed, the recent uptick in Antarctic tourism presents opportunities for bolstering cooperation, as states must grapple with the vast environmental effect polar tourism is having.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
Naomi Fry 12 hours ago In a way, Alex, these two performances, both great, are polar opposites.
—Condé Nast, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
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
Adjective
But as the days passed and the polar sun beamed over them around the clock, Willenbring’s research mission became increasingly dark.
—David Kushner, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Meteorologists project that the rain will continue into the weekend for residents between San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, with the chance for thunderstorms increasing to 25-35% as the polar air mass continues to destabilize the atmosphere throughout the day.
—Katie Lauer, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
The polar opposites are forced to work together when the tyrannical Queen of Hearts incites a coup against Auradon, and Red and Chloe travel back in time to undo the traumatic event that set Red’s mother down her villainous path.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2024
This was geek heaven for Asher, who got to speak with specialists in planetary defense (news flash: no known asteroids are on track to hit Earth) and space resources (evidently ice on the moon’s polar caps is stirring up a lot of interest).
—Leslie Camhi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2024
Estes Park will host a polar plunge, live performances and other events through Sunday, March 17.
—Heather Mundt, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
These creatures then mated with grizzly bears, creating another generation of bears with both polar and grizzly DNA.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Indeed, the recent uptick in Antarctic tourism presents opportunities for bolstering cooperation, as states must grapple with the vast environmental effect polar tourism is having.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
Naomi Fry 12 hours ago In a way, Alex, these two performances, both great, are polar opposites.
—Condé Nast, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 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
Phrases Containing polar
Dictionary Entries Near polar
Cite this Entry
“Polar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polar. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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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 
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
More from Merriam-Webster on polar
Nglish: Translation of polar for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of polar for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about polar
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