The term "polarization" has an etymology rooted in both scientific and figurative senses. It originates from the French word "polariser," which itself comes fro the New Latin "polaris," meaning "pertaining to the poles."  This Latin root refers to the poles of the Earth, and the concept of poles was then applied to describe the division of something into distinct opposites. 

In its scientific context, "polarization" first appeared in the early 1800s to describe the properties of light waves. Later, the term was extended to describe the separation of charges in matter, as in the formation of electric dipoles.  The term "polarization" was first coined by Étienne-Louis Malus in 1811 in a scientific context, referring to the properties of light waves.   Figuratively, the term "polarization" began to be used in the late 19th century, and gained prominence in the mid-20th century, to describe the process or state of being divided into two distinct and opposing groups or viewpoints, particularly in social and political contexts. This usage is now widely understood in discussions about political and social divisions, where it refers to the increasing concentration of opinions at opposing extremes.  It's commonly used to describe the increasing divergence of political views and the growing separation between different social or cultural groups.  Language: Polarization and polarisation are both English terms. Polarization is predominantly used in 🇺🇸 American (US) English ( en-US ) while polarisation is predominantly used in 🇬🇧 British English (used in UK/AU/NZ) ( en-GB).

"Polarization" and "polarizing" used in a sentence: 
 "Like a magnet, the crystal retains the polarization when the field is turned off." 
"Like a magnet, the crystal retains the polarization when the field is turned off."  
"Our goal is lively discussion, not polarization."
"The polarization of wealth in the past 20 years has been extreme."
"They agreed to work together to end racial polarization."

"The 2000s are one of the most polarizing eras in fashion." 
"Richardson entered the week as one of the most polarizing prospects in the draft."
"The star of the combine may be Richardson, arguably the most polarizing prospect in the draft."
"The actress's performance was widely praised, but also considered polarizing by some critics."  
"The new policy has proven to be a polarizing issue among the staff."