unipolar
adjective
uni·po·lar
ˌyü-ni-ˈpō-lər 
1
: having or oriented in respect to a single pole: such as
a
: having or involving the use of a single magnetic or electrical pole
b
: based on or controlled by a single factor or view
China mistrusts a unipolar, U.S.-dominated world.—
Thomas A. Stewart
Thomas A. Stewart2
psychology
: being, characteristic of, or affected by unipolar depression
unipolar depressive episodes
unipolar patients
Examples of unipolar in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This shared sense of exceptionalism was also the common factor in the country’s two otherwise contradictory foreign-policy traditions, as Henry Kissinger pointed out in 1994, at a moment of unipolar American primacy.
—Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 25 June 2024
With the post–Cold War unipolar moment over, the United States and China now jostle over trade and technology, compete in a conventional and nuclear arms race, and seek to counter the other in various hot spots.
—Charles L. Glaser, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024
The collapse of the Soviet Union shocked China’s leaders, and the U.S. military success in the 1991 Gulf War brought home to them that China now existed in a unipolar world in which the United States could deploy its power almost at will.
—Odd Arne Westad, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2024
The United States entered its unipolar moment and Russia was busy rebuilding after the collapse of its empire.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
Two decades on, the unipolar moment has faded, along with dreams of a better Middle East and American appetite for active international engagement.
—Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Suddenly, America’s unipolar moment had arrived, and the global triumph of liberalism seemed sure to follow.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
Despite its strength, the United States does not preside over a unipolar world.
—Fareed Zakaria, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
The unipolar moment appears to be over, and the emergence of new powers pursuing interests in Africa—China most prominent among them, but also Russia and middle powers such as Brazil, India, Turkey, and the Gulf monarchies—gives African leaders more choices of partners.
—Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 25 June 2024
With the post–Cold War unipolar moment over, the United States and China now jostle over trade and technology, compete in a conventional and nuclear arms race, and seek to counter the other in various hot spots.
—Charles L. Glaser, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024
The collapse of the Soviet Union shocked China’s leaders, and the U.S. military success in the 1991 Gulf War brought home to them that China now existed in a unipolar world in which the United States could deploy its power almost at will.
—Odd Arne Westad, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2024
The United States entered its unipolar moment and Russia was busy rebuilding after the collapse of its empire.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
Two decades on, the unipolar moment has faded, along with dreams of a better Middle East and American appetite for active international engagement.
—Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Suddenly, America’s unipolar moment had arrived, and the global triumph of liberalism seemed sure to follow.
—Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023
Despite its strength, the United States does not preside over a unipolar world.
—Fareed Zakaria, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
The unipolar moment appears to be over, and the emergence of new powers pursuing interests in Africa—China most prominent among them, but also Russia and middle powers such as Brazil, India, Turkey, and the Gulf monarchies—gives African leaders more choices of partners.
—Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unipolar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unipolar
Cite this Entry
“Unipolar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unipolar. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
unipolar
adjective
uni·po·lar
ˌyü-ni-ˈpō-lər
1
: involving or being an electrode or lead attached to the surface of a bodily site (as the chest) for recording the difference in electrical potential between the site and that of another electrode or lead having zero potential
2
of a neuron
: having but one process
3
: being, characteristic of, or affected by unipolar depression
unipolar depressive episodes
unipolar patients
compare bipolar
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