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

The game's prime moment wasn't the decisive and popular eighth-inning, two-run homer by Mark Bellhorn … but a sensational play by Boston's Manny Ramirez in the top of that same stanza.

—Roger Angell

stanzaic

stan-ˈzā-ik 

adjective

Examples of stanza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Norwell struck for back-to-back goals in the latter stages of the stanza, as Panttila potted two in a row, before Gus Greene beat the buzzer with a last-second shot for Cohasset as the foes entered the break in a 5-3 contest. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 15 June 2025

Gemini took care with its enjambment, carefully crafting stanzas, but didn’t use punctuation outside of periods and commas. —PC Magazine, 6 May 2025

The second stanza settled into a game more to the Islanders’ liking, a low-event affair with a measured pace, initially. —Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 9 Mar. 2025

In the second stanza, Pyfer pressured Diaz and then, showing off his power, ended the fight with a powerful left hook that put his opponent on his back. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025

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