Merriam-Webster defines polarization as division into two sharply distinct opposites; especially a state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes.
According to Peter Sokolowski, the editor-at-large of Merriam-Webster, polarization means that we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the center, reflecting the current climate of division in American society.
Merriam-Webster's selection highlights that polarization is not limited to politics, but also evident in celebrity disputes and sports controversies, indicating a broader cultural divide.
The term 'polarization' has been in use since the early 1800s and has transformed from a scientific term describing light waves to a descriptor for contemporary political and social dynamics.
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