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

Fuel costs also affected Oil prices are already ticking up as Iran maintains a hardline stance over its control of the Strait of Hormuz. — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Little League International took to social media to offer a firm stance on online betting with this year's World Series tournament already underway. — Gio Insignares, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

There is a seamlessness to the way the body panels blend into each other, conveying a stance that manages to be monolithic and solid without venturing into edgy brick territory. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 20 Aug. 2026

Raman has to win over voters who supported Pratt’s conservative stances while not alienating her progressive base. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 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