ballast

1 of 2

noun

bal·​last ˈba-ləst 

1

: a heavy substance (such as rocks or water) placed in such a way as to improve stability and control (as of the draft of a ship or the buoyancy of a balloon or submarine)

tossed several tons of ballast overboard

2

: something that gives stability (as in character or conduct)

She provided the ballast we needed during stressful times.

3

: gravel or broken stone laid in a railroad bed or used in making concrete

4

: a device used to provide the starting voltage or to stabilize the current in a circuit (as of a fluorescent lamp)

ballast

2 of 2

verb

ballasted; ballasting; ballasts

transitive verb

1

: to steady or equip with or as if with ballast

They ballast the canoe with large rocks.

2

: to fill in (something, such as a railroad bed) with ballast (see ballast entry 1 sense 3)

Phrases

in ballast

of a ship : having only ballast for a load

Examples of ballast in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And bonds typically offer ballast during stock market routs. —Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025

The lesson: Dividends can act as a portfolio ballast. —Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2025

Verb

That’s how much ballast the new Range Rover has tossed out, illustrating the automotive trend toward lightweighting. —Lawrence Ulrich, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Mar. 2013

Alcaraz broke the Auger-Aliassime serve from 40-15 behind on multiple occasions, with a sprinkling of winners (just eight in the first set) ballasted by the mental pressure Auger-Aliassime felt, feeding on scraps of opportunity and over-pressing on easy shots. —James Hansen, The Athletic, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from Low German, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish & Swedish barlast ballast; perhaps akin to Old English bær bare & to Old English hlæst load, hladan to load — more at lade

Verb

derivative of ballast entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ballast

• in ballast

Rhymes for ballast

• calloused
• callused
• dialysed
• medallist
• paralysed

Kids Definition

ballast

1 of 2 noun

bal·​last ˈbal-əst 

1

: heavy material used especially to make a ship steady or to control the rising of a balloon

2

: gravel or broken stone laid in a foundation for a railroad or used in making concrete

ballast

2 of 2 verb

: to provide with ballast