stance

American  

[stans] / stæns /

noun

• stances
  plural

1. the position or bearing of the body while standing.

   legs spread in a wide stance; the threatening stance of the bull.

2. a mental or emotional position adopted with respect to something.

   They assumed an increasingly hostile stance in their foreign policy.

3. Sports. the relative position of the feet, as in addressing a golf ball or in making a stroke.

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stance British  

/ stæns, stɑːns /

noun

1. the manner and position in which a person or animal stands

2. sport the posture assumed when about to play the ball, as in golf, cricket, etc

3. general emotional or intellectual attitude

   a leftist stance

4. a place where buses or taxis wait

5. mountaineering a place at the top of a pitch where a climber can stand and belay

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• stances
  plural

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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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stance stances

Written with an unmistakably Caribbean verve and snappy, conversational meter, Carrero defines his stance on Cuba in no uncertain terms.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

But faced with the government’s determination to increase the bank’s capital requirements, he has softened his stance on the importance of maintaining a Swiss financial champion, those people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

The Kremlin said Tehran's stance was relayed in a phone call held between the two leaders on Friday.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026

But it is understood a number of clubs have already taken a clear stance for their managers not to comment.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

The pitcher looks at the batter’s stance and how they hold the bat from one angle, and the catcher takes note of the batter’s swing from a different one.

From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone

The combination of these stances became known as “fusionism” in the 1960s, so antithetical did some hold them to be.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

He had been asked about the stances of Newsom and his potential successor, Xavier Becerra, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Kettner has remained bullish on stocks since 2023, as other rival Wall Street analysts have taken more cautious stances.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

But there’s another reason successors like Graham often adopt their male predecessors’ stances: political expedience.

From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2026

And that, at least, gave me some hope: that even under ordinary circum- stances, I still might find a way to live an extraordinary life.

From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs

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Related Words

• attitude
• posture
• stand
• viewpoint

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