polarity

/poʊˈlɛrəti/

Other forms: polarities

Polarity is a relationship between two opposite characteristics or tendencies, like the polarity of two sides of a debate, or of the superhero and villain in a comic book.

Polarity can literally refer to a positive or negative electric charge. Less literally, it indicates something with two opposing but related qualities. You might visualize polarity as a battery holder with a plus sign on one end and a negative on the other. More than just opposites, polarity suggests opposites that are interconnected. What would the light of day be without the dark of night? Good without evil? Yin without Yang?

Definitions of polarity

1. noun

   a relation between two opposite attributes or tendencies
   “he viewed it as a balanced polarity between good and evil”

   synonyms: mutual opposition

   type of:

   oppositeness, opposition

   the relation between opposed entities
2. noun

   the state of having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges)
   “he got the polarity of the battery reversed”

   synonyms: sign

   types:

   positiveness, positivity

   the character of the positive electric pole

   negativeness, negativity

   the character of the negative electric pole

   type of:

   oppositeness, opposition

   the relation between opposed entities