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

Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has defended his stance on ensuring there is due process for House members, telling reporters last week that representatives should not be removed based only on allegations. —Ana Ceballos follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Jalili’s potential appointment, however, signals a hardening of Iran’s stance, with more emphasis on resistance over compromise. —Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026

When the Red Bull Dance Your Style competition holds its Midwest Regional in Kansas City on Saturday, April 25, the moves performed will feature more headspins and b-boy stances than your typical performance inside the iconic landmark. —Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026

Pashinyan’s pro-Western stance led to a deterioration of relations with Moscow, clearing the way for Azerbaijan’s seizure of the territory in 2020-2023. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 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