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

For one, the boot’s stance angles have been refined over several years to hit that Goldilocks sweet spot: not too flexed, not too upright, and dead-flat edge-to-edge underfoot. —Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024

Trump has always taken a tough stance on immigration — something that resonated with his supporters. —Kristen Taketa, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024

Agran, while a lifelong Democrat, has taken a more conservative stance than Khan and Kim on local planning issues. —Jonathan Horwitz, Orange County Register, 8 Nov. 2024

His stance on foreign policy, particularly his criticism of the U.S. role in the Israel-Hamas war, has set him apart from mainstream Democratic leaders. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 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