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

That stance effectively left Olson as the player asked to make the unusual defensive adjustment, as Tellez confirmed on Foul Territory. —Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

One of those pundits who is starting to rethink his stance on the Stars and Stripes is 12-time Swedish Player of the Year and FOX Soccer correspondent Zlatan Ibrahimović. —Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026

For now, the EU is holding off on taking a more aggressive stance, fearing Chinese retaliation, and will instead focus on dialogue while proposing a new law to diversify sources of key ‌supplies. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 June 2026

Yamal, the child of immigrants to Spain, recently took a vocal stance about anti-Muslim chants at Spanish soccer games, and when his club, FC Barcelona, won Spain's La Liga championship in Spain last month, the star player waved a Palestinian flag during the celebratory parade. —Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 20 June 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