balcony
Americannoun
plural
balconies-
a balustraded or railed elevated platform projecting from the wall of a building.
-
a gallery in a theater.
noun
-
a platform projecting from the wall of a building with a balustrade or railing along its outer edge, often with access from a door or window
-
a gallery in a theatre or auditorium, above the dress circle
-
any circle or gallery in a theatre or auditorium including the dress circle
Other Word Forms
- balconied adjective
- unbalconied adjective
Etymology
Origin of balcony
1610–20; < Italian balcone balcony, floor-length window < Langobardic (compare Old High German balc ( h ) o, accusative singular balcon beam; balk ); sense extended from the beam over an aperture to the aperture itself
Compare meaning
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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.
Among its more impressive features are an extraordinary great room with a 30-foot ceiling, as well as an expansive primary suite that boasts a sitting room, balcony, enormous walk-in closet, and two bathrooms.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
Gehry was a devoted outdoor-indoor architect, and he designed for the hall a balcony on which musicians can perform.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026
A few nights ago, while sitting on her balcony, she caught herself marveling at the sight of “a beautiful golden missile” streaming through the sky.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026
My room was large, with a sectional sofa, two TVs and a balcony overlooking the pool with partial views of the Strip.
From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026
A Latino family stepped tentatively out onto the balcony of another apartment building.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
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.
