polyvalent

English

Etymology

poly- +‎ -valent

Adjective

polyvalent (comparative more polyvalent, superlative most polyvalent)

1. Multivalent; having a number of different forms, purposes, meanings, aspects or principles.
2. (chemistry) Having a high valence, especially more than three.
3. (chemistry) Having multiple valencies.
4. (biology) Containing antibodies to more than one kind of pathogen.

Derived terms

• polyvalently

French

Etymology

From poly- and -valent

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɔ.li.va.lɑ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

polyvalent (feminine polyvalente, masculine plural polyvalents, feminine plural polyvalentes)

1. versatile, multipurpose; that has various uses, functions, or capacities

Noun

polyvalent m (plural polyvalents, feminine polyvalente)

1. an employee who carries out various different functions

Further reading

• “polyvalent”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.