po ‧ lar ‧ ize BrE AmE ( also polarise British English ) /ˈpəʊləraɪz $ ˈpoʊ-/ verb [intransitive and transitive] formal
to divide into clearly separate groups with opposite beliefs, ideas, or opinions, or to make people do this:
The issue has polarized the country.
—polarization /ˌpəʊləraɪˈzeɪʃ ə n $ ˌpoʊlərə-/ noun [uncountable]