Standard Lemma guide

multipolar

adj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /mʌltiˈpəʊlə/
  • rhymes with -əʊlə(ɹ)

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having more than two poles.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Of or relating to an international system in which a number of states wield most of the cultural, economic, and political influence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: government, politics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An electromagnetic machine in which several magnetic poles exist.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mel-der. Proto-Indo-European *ml̥tós? Proto-Italic *moltos Latin multus Latin multīder. Middle English multi- English multi- Proto-Indo-European *kwel-der. Proto-Indo-European *kwól-os Proto-Hellenic *pólos Ancient Greek πόλος (pólos)der. Latin polus Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin -āris Late Latin polārislbor. English polar English multipolar From multi- + polar.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: բազմաբեւեռ (bazmabeweṙ) — physics, biology: having more than two poles
  • Finnish: moninapainen — physics, biology: having more than two poles
  • Finnish: multipolaarinen — physics, biology: having more than two poles
  • French: multipolaire — physics, biology: having more than two poles
  • German: multipolar — physics, biology: having more than two poles
  • Greek: πολυπολικός (polypolikós) — physics, biology: having more than two poles
  • Russian: многополя́рный (mnogopoljárnyj) — physics, biology: having more than two poles
  • Armenian: բազմաբեւեռ (bazmabeweṙ) — having multiple centers of influence
  • Finnish: moninapainen — having multiple centers of influence
  • Finnish: hajautettu — having multiple centers of influence
  • French: multipolaire — having multiple centers of influence
  • Georgian: მრავალპოლუსიანი (mravalṗolusiani) — having multiple centers of influence
  • Georgian: მულტიპოლარული (mulṭiṗolaruli) — having multiple centers of influence
  • German: multipolar — having multiple centers of influence
  • Greek: πολυπολικός (polypolikós) — having multiple centers of influence
  • Kazakh: көпполюсті (köppolüstı) — having multiple centers of influence
  • Russian: многополя́рный (mnogopoljárnyj) — having multiple centers of influence