The word "polarize" is spelled with a "z" instead of an "s" despite its similarity to the word "polarise" in British English. This difference in spelling can be traced back to differences in pronunciation between American and British English. The American English pronunciation of "polarize" includes a clear "z" sound, which is represented by the letter "z" in the spelling. The IPA phonetic transcription for "polarize" in American English is /ˈpoʊləˌraɪz/.
Polarize is a verb that refers to the process or result of dividing or causing to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or factions, usually based on conflicting opinions, beliefs, values, or ideologies. When a situation or issue is polarized, it means that there is a clear and significant division or polarization between people or groups, with each side holding opposing views, attitudes, or perspectives.
The term "polarize" can also describe the act or process of intensifying or exacerbating existing differences or conflicts between individuals, communities, or nations, resulting in increased polarization. In this sense, it involves the strengthening or deepening of opposing attitudes, bias, or prejudices, which further contribute to the separation or divisions between people.
Polarization often occurs in highly controversial topics or matters that elicit strong emotions and deeply held beliefs. It can be driven by various factors such as political, social, or cultural issues, and it may be further fueled by media, rhetoric, or propaganda emphasizing and amplifying the differences between groups. This process can lead to the formation of echo chambers or filter bubbles, where individuals mainly interact and consume information from sources that reinforce their own beliefs, making it increasingly difficult to bridge the gap between different perspectives.
Overall, to polarize is to create or deepen a significant division or separation between opposing viewpoints, often intensifying existing conflicts or differences, which can hinder productive dialogue, cooperation, or understanding.
To put into a state of polarization, referring either to light rays or to an electric battery.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "polarize" comes from the noun "pole", which traces back to the Latin word "polus" meaning "end of an axis". The verb "polarize" is derived from the noun "polarization", which first appeared in the early 19th century. It refers to the process of dividing or separating into two conflicting or contrasting groups or opinions, similar to how the poles of a magnet repel or attract each other.