checks and balances

noun

plural in form but sometimes singular in construction
: a system that allows each branch of a government to amend, override, or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power or power beyond its authority
Things that for many decades were givens—the checks and balances on the executive, the role of the judiciary or the civil service, a media free from interference or vilification—now appear vulnerable.Emily Maitlis
"I do think that there is an expectation in our country that checks and balances is a good thing," [Senator John] Thune said …Stephen Groves
broadly : a system in which power and control is distributed and counterbalanced (as to prevent unethical or harmful actions)
Founders [of startup businesses] benefit from checks and balances. … It makes the company more trustworthy, easier to finance, and less likely to implode. For those same reasons, checks and balances help employees. Noam Wasserman

Examples of checks and balances in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Here's the deal—our system operates on checks and balances. David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025 This means creating checks and balances where all C-suite leaders are closely aligned, and CISOs are granted a seat in the boardroom. Shane Buckley, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 Trump obviously isn’t a consensus politician, and, with Capitol Hill under the control of supine Republicans, the checks and balances are looking less restrictive than ever. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025 Generals, prosecutors, and all public officials are subject to checks and balances. Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for checks and balances

Word History

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of checks and balances was in 1777

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Cite this Entry

“Checks and balances.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/checks%20and%20balances. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

checks and balances

plural noun
: a system that allows each branch of a government to amend or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one branch from having too much power

Legal Definition

checks and balances

noun plural
checks and bal·​anc·​es
-ˈba-lən-səz
: the powers (as judicial review, the presidential veto, and the congressional override) conferred on each of the three branches of government by which each restrains the others from exerting too much power see also separation of powers

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