stance

[stans]

noun

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

stance

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stance¹

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”; stand

Word History and Origins

Origin of stance¹

C16: via French from Italian stanza place for standing, from Latin stāns , from stāre to stand

Example Sentences

"For 23 months of destruction, these factions have shown no real national stance - not in politics, not in relief work, not even in respecting the people's will," he said.

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And gosh, they all happen to be issues where the GOP stance is unpopular, even with some of their base.

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The protests - with the homemade messaging - captured attention but did nothing to alter the club's stance.

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Soon officers were told to adopt the "show of strength" stance, meaning they should take batons out of their holders and above their heads, pointing upwards.

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Common Defense, in fact, goes beyond an anti-war stance to address the underlying ills that make such wars so much more likely.

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Related Words

• attitude 
• posture 
• stand 
• viewpoint