multipolar

adjective

mul·​ti·​po·​lar ˌməl-tē-ˈpō-lər 

-ˌtī-

1

: having several poles (see pole entry 3)

a multipolar generator

multipolar mitoses

2

: having several dendrites

multipolar neurons

3

: characterized by more than two centers of power or interest

a multipolar world

multipolarity

ˌməl-tē-pō-ˈler-ə-tē 

-ˈla-rə-tē

-ˌtī-

noun

Examples of multipolar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In our increasingly multipolar world, the pursuit of absolute moral purity is a luxury. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025

The post–Cold War unipolar world, dominated by the United States, is becoming a multipolar one. —Roger W. Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2025

In an increasingly multipolar world, countries such as Serbia – a regional powerhouse that the West has tried to prize away from its historic ally Russia – enjoy plenty of options. —Christian Edwards, CNN, 2 Feb. 2025

His efforts at alliance building reflected not the beginning of a multipolar era but an ideological contest between democracy and autocracy in a new cold war with China. —Michael Brenes, Foreign Affairs, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

multipolar

adjective

mul·​ti·​po·​lar ˌməl-ti-ˈpō-lər  -ˌtī- 

1

: having several poles

multipolar mitoses

2

: having several dendrites

multipolar nerve cells

multipolarity

-pō-ˈlar-ət-ē 

noun

plural multipolarities