multivalent

adjective

mul·​ti·​va·​lent ˌməl-tē-ˈvā-lənt How to pronounce multivalent (audio) -ˌtī- How to pronounce multivalent (audio)
especially in sense 3
ˌməl-ˈti-və- How to pronounce multivalent (audio)
1
: polyvalent
2
: represented more than twice in the somatic chromosome number
multivalent chromosomes
3
: having many values, meanings, or appeals
multivalent noun

Examples of multivalent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Taken as a whole, the collage tells a multifaceted story of a multivalent, essential space, albeit one with perhaps some questionable karma. — Corey Seymour, Vogue, 2 May 2025 Instead, their thinking goes, taking this multivalent approach should provide good protection against severe disease. — Alice Park, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025 This collection of memories — snapshots of a year in many lives — also serves as a multivalent gay history from almost a decade before Stonewall to the day before yesterday. — Nicole Acheampong, New York Times, 26 June 2024 Taormina’s fondly multivalent, Millennial-Norman-Rockwell perspective incorporates a child’s experience of the holiday, overlaid with a teen’s and a parent’s and a grandparent’s and so on. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 17 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for multivalent

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of multivalent was in 1863

Rhymes for multivalent

See All Rhymes for multivalent

Browse Nearby Words

multivalence
multivalent
multivalued
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Multivalent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multivalent. Accessed 11 May. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

multivalent

1 of 2 adjective
mul·​ti·​va·​lent ˌməl-ti-ˈvā-lənt How to pronounce multivalent (audio) -ˌtī- How to pronounce multivalent (audio)
1
: polyvalent
2
: represented more than twice in the somatic chromosome number
multivalent chromosomes

multivalent

2 of 2 noun
: a multivalent group of chromosomes
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 1

Rare and Amusing Insults, Volume 3

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

More Words with Remarkable Origins
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 1
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All