Definition
The increasing ideological gap between political parties and voters, making compromise feel like betrayal to true believers on both sides.
Example Usage
Political polarization has reached levels where 40% of each party views the other as a threat to democracy.
Origin
Political science term from 1980s onward describing voter/party behavior
Fun Fact
Partisan polarization increased 60% between 2000 and 2020 in the United States.
Source: Pew Research Center Polarization Reports
Related Terms
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See “Polarization” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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