depolarize

verb

de·​po·​lar·​ize (ˌ)dē-ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz 

depolarized; depolarizing; depolarizes

transitive verb

1

: to cause to become partially or wholly unpolarized

2

: to prevent or remove polarization of (something, such as a particle (see particle sense 3) or dry cell)

After all, if a positive muon managed to capture one of the many electrons that are free to move about in graphite, the electron could easily depolarize (mess up the spin of) the muon so that they would not all be doing the same thing in lockstep.

—Leon Lederman et al.

3

physiology : to cause (a muscle or nerve cell) to undergo depolarization

In order to establish whether or not this type of capacitor discharge would depolarize the entire heart, it was tested as a cardiac defibrillator.

—Bernard Lown et al.

intransitive verb

physiology

: to undergo depolarization

Smooth muscle cells in small arteries depolarize and contract in response to increased intravascular pressure.

—Joseph E. Brayden and Mark T. Nelson

depolarizer

(ˌ)dē-ˈpō-lə-ˌrī-zər 

noun

plural depolarizers

Examples of depolarize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

America needs a centrist who will depolarize the nation. —WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023

So at rest, they are depolarized in general at about minus 80 millivolts or minus 75 millivolts. —Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2023

His results have very large implications for how to depolarize an array of scientific issues-and how to communicate about controversial science in general. —Chris Mooney, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2011

The larger issue -- and opportunity -- is to depolarize associations of faith with one political party. —John Avlon, CNN, 29 Oct. 2021

There’s two magnets that are rotating back and forth and creates an electric current, which can travel through the skull a few centimeters to the upper layers of the cortex and depolarize or activate brain activate there. —BostonGlobe.com, 11 Oct. 2021

Absent a radical shift in the right’s priorities, the only way to depolarize our institutions is to win big against those who want to keep them undemocratic. —Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 19 May 2020

Some of the drugs that can be used to depolarize cells are already approved for humans. —Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 26 May 2017

Some of the drugs that can be used to depolarize cells are already approved for humans. —Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 26 May 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

depolarize

verb

de·​po·​lar·​ize

variants or British depolarise

(ˈ)dē-ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz 

depolarized or British depolarised; depolarizing or British depolarising

transitive verb

: to cause (a muscle or nerve cell) to undergo depolarization

In order to establish whether or not this type of capacitor discharge would depolarize the entire heart, it was tested as a cardiac defibrillator.

—Bernard Lown et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association

intransitive verb

: to undergo depolarization

Smooth muscle cells in small arteries depolarize and contract in response to increased intravascular pressure.

—Joseph E. Brayden and Mark T. Nelson, Science

depolarizer noun

or British depolariser

-ˌrī-zər