imbalance

noun

im·bal·ance | \ (ˌ)im-ˈba-lən(t)s

Definition of imbalance

: lack of balance : the state of being out of equilibrium or out of proportion a vitamin imbalance racial imbalance in schools

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Examples of imbalance in a Sentence

Her depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. the problem of racial imbalance in schools

Recent Examples on the Web

This often manifests as a variety of imbalances, many of which create auto-immune-like symptoms: skin issues, joint pain, hair loss, etc. — Steven Macari, Harper's BAZAAR, "The 9 Best Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies," 15 May 2019 In the case of a sudden imbalance—such as from the loss of a generator’s output—all the remaining generators on the grid instantaneously pool together. — Robert Blohm, WSJ, "The Green New Deal’s Impossible Electric Grid," 20 Feb. 2019 If there’s any flaw or imbalance, the monitor will show it. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "The Air Force Is Changing How Special Ops Fighters Are Trained," 12 Feb. 2019 This imbalance, depicted in the leaking of factory jobs out to China while corporate treasuries fill with money, angers people enough that a demagogue promising to bring back their jobs could get a foothold. — David Dayen, The New Republic, "Trump’s Theater of Trade," 27 Mar. 2018 Because there isn’t always one culprit; sometimes, UTI-like symptoms are caused by other things, such as muscle problems in the area, hormone imbalances, or when frequent antibiotic use has messed up the body’s microbiome. — Jessica Furseth, The Cut, "The Wild, Necessary World of Online Advice for UTI Pain," 12 Mar. 2018 There was a real power imbalance in Davidson and Grande’s relationship, and that was one of the reasons people followed it so avidly. — Eliza Brooke, Vox, "What will become of the engagement ring Pete Davidson gave Ariana Grande?," 15 Oct. 2018 Distortion is less than 1 percent @ 101 decibels (20 micropascals), and channel imbalance is less than 1.5 decibels (at 1,000 hertz). — Jim Rossman, The Seattle Times, "Tech review: Simgot in-ear monitors offer great sound and a great price," 13 Apr. 2019 The imbalance is a legacy of Renault’s investment in Nissan when the Japanese company was under financial duress. — Nick Kostov, WSJ, "Nissan Enlisted Japanese Government to Fend Off Renault Merger," 15 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'imbalance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

23 May 2019

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The first known use of imbalance was circa 1890

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More Definitions for imbalance

imbalance

noun

English Language Learners Definition of imbalance

: a state or condition in which different things do not occur in equal or proper amounts

See the full definition for imbalance in the English Language Learners Dictionary

imbalance

noun

im·bal·ance | \ (ˈ)im-ˈbal-ən(t)s

Medical Definition of imbalance

: lack of balance : the state of being out of equilibrium or out of proportion: as

a : loss of parallel relation between the optical axes of the eyes caused by faulty action of the extrinsic muscles and often resulting in diplopia

b : absence of biological equilibrium a vitamin imbalance if the ductus arteriosus fails to close, a circulatory imbalance results— E. B. Steen & Ashley Montagu

c : a disproportion between the number of males and females in a population