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

• posture
• attitude

Examples of stance in a Sentence

a slightly aggressive stance

Recent Examples on the Web

This would be a major reversal of its stance towards digital assets, and it is expected to be approved by China's State Council, the story said. —Medora Lee, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025

Policymakers have continued to cite the uncertain impact that tariffs will have on inflation as a reason for caution and believe that current economic conditions and the slightly restrictive policy stance allow for time to make further decisions. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025

While some coaches prefer their starting quarterbacks get some work during the preseason, Rams head coach Sean McVay has made his stance clear regarding the injury risks in exhibition games. —Mark Lasota, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025

As was the case with Japan, interest rates turned out to be a highly misleading indicator of the stance of monetary policy. —Nino Paoli, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2025

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