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 of stance

• posture
• attitude

Examples of stance in a Sentence

a slightly aggressive stance

Recent Examples on the Web

This stance aligns with a June executive order that explicitly ruled out mandatory government preclearance for new models, the White House said. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 9 July 2026

But a small minority of firms took less enthusiastic stances. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 9 July 2026

The board may not agree with someone’s political stance, but such defamation and name-calling are a reflection on it. — Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Athanasius’ shifting stance and sweeping vestments create drama. — Denva Gallant, The Conversation, 8 July 2026

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