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 Southern Baptist Convention split from the College Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina and Amazing Grace Community Church in Franklinville, New Jersey over the churches' stances on sexuality in September 2022. —Kayla Jimenez, The Courier-Journal, 12 June 2024

In France, Marine Le Pen has softened her own stance on important issues and polished her image. —Emma Bubola, New York Times, 11 June 2024

Housing, growth and policing: The seven people vying for three City Council seats in July debated their stances on big city issues for the first time. —The Arizona Republic, 10 June 2024

India’s Perilous Border Standoff With China Modi’s tough stance could invite—not deter—Chinese aggression. —Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 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