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

Judges would consider the prisoners’ age, history, behavior in prison, education and maturity, as well as the stance of the victims when weighing whether to reduce a sentence. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2026

Rather than stake out any specific stances, Eddington convincingly depicts the confounding environment that its characters—and many of its audience members—are forced to interpret. —Jake Pitre, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026

Spaces like a playroom, home office, or home theater are excellent opportunities to take a bolder paint stance. —Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2026

The pair, who met in Oakland and eventually made their home in Mexico City, are openly activist in their stances, down to the political slogans on their restaurant napkins. —Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 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