stanza

noun

stan·​za ˈstan-zə 

1

: a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together in a usually recurring pattern of meter and rhyme : strophe

2

sports : a period (such as a half or an inning) into which the duration of a game is divided

The game's prime moment wasn't the decisive and popular eighth-inning, two-run homer by Mark Bellhorn … but a sensational play by Boston's Manny Ramirez in the top of that same stanza.

—Roger Angell

stanzaic

stan-ˈzā-ik 

adjective

Examples of stanza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Saudi Arabia, a guest nation in Concacaf’s championship, had the best chances of the first stanza. —Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 20 June 2025

Cohasset responded once again, as Molly Campbell potted her second goal, before Regan scored and the Skippers trimmed it to 6-5 with 2:16 remaining in the stanza. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025

And several celebrated works were reprinted with entire stanzas missing. —Susan Gubar june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025

Norwell struck for back-to-back goals in the latter stages of the stanza, as Panttila potted two in a row, before Gus Greene beat the buzzer with a last-second shot for Cohasset as the foes entered the break in a 5-3 contest. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 15 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, stay, abode, room, stanza, from Vulgar Latin *stantia stay — more at stance

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stanza

• ballad stanza
• heroic stanza
• Rubaiyat stanza
• Spenserian stanza

Rhymes for stanza

• bonanza
• extravaganza

Kids Definition

stanza

noun

stan·​za ˈstan-zə 

: a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together in a usually repeating pattern of rhythm and rhyme

stanzaic

stan-ˈzā-ik 

adjective