stance
Americannoun
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the position or bearing of the body while standing.
legs spread in a wide stance; the threatening stance of the bull.
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a mental or emotional position adopted with respect to something.
They assumed an increasingly hostile stance in their foreign policy.
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Sports. the relative position of the feet, as in addressing a golf ball or in making a stroke.
noun
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the manner and position in which a person or animal stands
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sport the posture assumed when about to play the ball, as in golf, cricket, etc
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general emotional or intellectual attitude
a leftist stance
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a place where buses or taxis wait
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mountaineering a place at the top of a pitch where a climber can stand and belay
Etymology
Origin of stance
First recorded in 1525–35; from Old French estance, “(standing) position,” from Vulgar Latin stantia (unrecorded), derivative of Latin stant-, stem of stāns “standing,” present participle of stāre “to stand”; see also stand
Explanation
Your stance is your posture or the way you stand. Figuratively, if you take a stance against bullying, you are standing against it. If you take a stance on a contentious issue, it means you believe strongly about it one way or the other. If your stance is unpopular, you'll need some courage to speak your mind. The word comes from the Italian stanza which means stopping place. Your stance is something that's not likely to change. You have stopped there, your decision is made. You're done.
Vocabulary lists containing stance
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Increasing inflation concerns amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could be reinforcing expectations of a more restrictive monetary-policy stance, says Somesh Kapuria, Chief Executive of Hola Prime, in an email.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
He noted that investors had been piling in recently, with a sharp reduction in gross short positions — a bearish stance — combined with fresh buying of long or bullish positions.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
"He's come to do good, with all his love," she said of Leo's firm stance in favour of peace and migrants.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
The US government's stance is that trading with countries which buy things made with forced labour is unfair on the US.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
TimeStar took a wide-legged stance, planted his fists on his hips, and tilted his head toward the sky.
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
