Word of the Day: Polarization (noun)
Possible Meanings:
- The act of dividing something into two opposing groups or categories.
- A sharp difference in opinion or belief between two groups.
Subscribe to our newsletter and we’ll deliver fresh vocabulary straight to your inbox!
Example Sentences:
- The social media debate on gun control has led to a dangerous polarization of views. (Explanation: Polarization is used here because the online discussion has created a situation where people are divided into strong opposing camps, with little room for compromise.)
- The upcoming election is expected to further exacerbate the existing political polarization. (Explanation: This sentence uses polarization because the existing sharp differences in political beliefs are likely to become even more pronounced.)
- To improve teamwork, the manager encouraged open communication to bridge the polarization between departments. (Explanation: Here, polarization refers to the lack of understanding and potential hostility between different departments.)
- Scientific research aims to present evidence objectively, avoiding the polarization often seen in political debates. (Explanation: Polarization describes the tendency in political discussions for people to only focus on evidence that supports their existing beliefs.)
- A healthy democracy requires open dialogue and compromise, rather than extreme polarization. (Explanation: This sentence uses polarization to emphasize the dangers of a society where opposing views become so entrenched that people are unwilling to listen to each other.)
Conversation Example:
Person 1: “Did you see the news report about the protest? It seems like people are more divided than ever.”
Person 2: “Yeah, it’s a real shame. There’s so much polarization these days, it’s hard to have a civil conversation about anything.”
Person 1: “I agree. Maybe if we all tried to listen to each other more, we could find some common ground.”
Can you use polarization in a sentence of your own? Share your example in the comments below.