Polymers composed of macromolecules containing exclusively alternating arenediyl or heteroarenediyl (formerly arylene or heteroarylene, respectively) and ethene-1,2-diyl (formerly vinylene) or substituted vinylene constitutional repeating units in the backbone: where Ar is a divalent arenediyl or heteroarenediyl group and $\mathrm{R}{\phantom{A}}^1$ and $\mathrm{R}{\phantom{A}}^2$ are each hydrogen, or an alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group (structure-based polymer class name).

Note 1: Polyarylenevinylenes are a subclass of conjugated polymers.

Note 2: Polyarylenevinylenes are of interest mainly due to their electroluminescent properties.

Examples: