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

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday opted for a reassuring, though prodding, stance toward NATO partners at the Munich Security Conference, signaling the United States still views Europe as an essential ally. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 14 Feb. 2026

But Kennedy was equally as defiant and doubled down on his stance, strongly refuting the allegations directed towards him. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026

Harris also tried to take a neutral stance. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026

So far, Wall Street and shoppers appear to be rewarding that stance. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Feb. 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