What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
multivalent
Example
The multivalent vaccine targets several strains of the virus. [multivalent: adjective]
Example
The word 'bank' is multivalent and can refer to a financial institution or a river bank. [multivalent: adjective]
polyvalent
Example
The polyvalent vaccine protects against several diseases at once. [polyvalent: adjective]
Example
She is a polyvalent employee who can handle various tasks in the company. [polyvalent: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Polyvalent is more commonly used than multivalent in everyday language, especially in medical and scientific contexts. Multivalent is less common and has a narrower scope of usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between multivalent and polyvalent?
Both multivalent and polyvalent are formal words that are typically used in technical or scientific contexts. However, polyvalent may also be used in informal contexts to describe a person's skills or talents.
