bipolarism

noun

bi·​po·​lar·​ism (ˌ)bī-ˈpō-lə-ˌri-zəm 

1

: a bipolar quality, state, or condition

Saverio Giovacchini, a historian who examined the New York film culture and the lure of Los Angeles from 1930 to the present, traces much of the bipolarism between Los Angeles and New York culture to the period after World War II when the New York intellectuals defined mass culture and Los Angeles as the opposite of art, modernism and New York.

—Janny Scott, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2003

France regained its great power status, several historians argue, thanks to the bipolarism of the Cold War, which allowed it to exploit a space for maneuver between the rival blocs.

—Alessandro Brogi, A Question of Self-Esteem, 2002

The secondary is still inconsistent, delivering big plays and allowing them, too. Jason Shivers, who plays the toughest spot on the field, is the personification of that bipolarism.

—Steve Milton, Hamilton Spectator (Ontario, Canada), 23 Aug. 2010

2

medical : bipolar disorder

Kids fending off depression or bipolarism may get Prozac or Zoloft.

—Matt McDonald, New Hampshire Sunday News, 30 June 1996

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!