stance

noun

ˈstan(t)s 

1

chiefly Scotland

a

: station

b

: site

2

a

: a way of standing or being placed : posture

b

: intellectual or emotional attitude

took an antiwar stance

3

a

: the position of the feet of a golfer or batter preparatory to making a swing

b

: the position of both body and feet from which an athlete starts or operates

Synonyms

• attitude
• carriage
• poise
• posture
• station

Examples of stance in a Sentence

a slightly aggressive stance

Recent Examples on the Web

Finally, be prepared to share this stance, even if the decision is unpopular. —Simone E. Morris, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025

The Trump administration agrees, filing a brief supporting Catholic Charities and warning that Wisconsin’s stance could lead to unconstitutional government meddling in church affairs. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 31 Mar. 2025

Hamdan Ballal and his fellow No Other Land filmmakers are thanking top members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for signing a letter that pushed AMPAS leadership to take a firmer stance condemning an attack on Ballal by Israeli settlers. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2025

The Israel-Palestine conflict remained a focal point at the festival with pro-Palestinian groups calling for the festival to take a stance on the war in Gaza, and a Danish-Palestinian filmmaker walking out of a panel discussion with a Lebanese director working with an Israeli comedian. —Lise Pedersen, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stance, staunce, from Middle French estance position, posture, stay, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *stantia, from Latin stant-, stans, present participle of stare to stand

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing stance

• closed stance
• open stance

Rhymes for stance

• chance
• dance
• glance
• hance
• hanse
• lance
• manse
• prance
• trance
• advance
• askance
• enhance

Kids Definition

stance

noun

ˈstan(t)s 

1

: a way of standing or being placed : posture

a soldier with an erect stance

2

: a way of thinking or feeling

took an opposing stance on the issue