stanza

noun

stan·​za ˈstan-zə 

1

: a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together in a usually recurring pattern of meter and rhyme : strophe

2

sports : a period (such as a half or an inning) into which the duration of a game is divided

… held a 10-point lead in the final stanza.

—Vincent Frank

stanzaic

stan-ˈzā-ik 

adjective

Examples of stanza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Mountaineers, who rolled 47-32 the final half en route to an 86-75 victory, held Peterson to seven points the final stanza on 1-of-6 shooting. —Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 11 Jan. 2026

Senior Julia Kipperman wristed home the game-winner with a zig-zag, right-to-left and back to the right slot in the extra stanza and had a hand in all four goals for the Warriors by adding three assists to lead the way. —Brian Fabry, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026

And so Andrea had just sort of like collected a couple of pages of couplets, a few stanzas. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 11 Jan. 2026

Mizzou 24, Texas 20 The Tigers shot 69% from the field in the first stanza to claim an early lead, but the Longhorns attempted seven more field goals than their hosts thans to six Missouri turnovers and five Texas offensive rebounds. —David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 1 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian, stay, abode, room, stanza, from Vulgar Latin *stantia stay — more at stance

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stanza

• ballad stanza
• heroic stanza
• Rubaiyat stanza
• Spenserian stanza

Rhymes for stanza

• bonanza
• extravaganza

Kids Definition

stanza

noun

stan·​za ˈstan-zə 

: a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together in a usually repeating pattern of rhythm and rhyme

stanzaic

stan-ˈzā-ik 

adjective