A radar capable of measuring any or all of the polarization-dependent attributes of a target or backscattering medium. The term may denote a radar capable of measuring the full polarization matrix by means of variable transmitted polarization and dual-channel reception. It may also denote a simpler radar that transmits a single polarization and receives separately the copolarized and cross-polarized components of the returned signal. Compare dual-channel radar, dual-polarization radar, polarization-diversity radar.