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

The position of the company founded by Schwarz is aimed at American consumers taking a stance against corporate greed. —Shelley E. Kohan, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

Gottfried agrees and hopes that more healthcare providers across the country will summon the courage to take a stance, just as Carpenter did. —Alaa Elassar, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025

His stance may even encourage some of those people in Trump's entourage who favor a tougher approach toward negotiations with Russia to voice their concerns about the approach taken so far. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025

Russian officials, meanwhile, are basking in Washington's attention and offering words of support for Trump's stance. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 21 Feb. 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