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

That’s because Ferguson is seen as having a softer stance on antitrust regulation, which has weighed on Apple shares. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024

The Fed’s more hawkish stance prompted a market selloff, with the blue chip Dow Jones Industrial Average staggering to its longest losing streak since 1974. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

The production has been riddled with controversy, from the color-blind casting of Zegler to the CGI dwarfs played by mostly non-dwarf actors to the leads’ outspoken opposing stances on the war in Gaza. —Ben Rosenstock, TIME, 19 Dec. 2024

With geopolitical tensions unlikely to subside, Finland's proactive stance serves as both a deterrent and a blueprint for other nations facing similar threats. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024

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

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