balance of power

American  

noun

1. a distribution and opposition of forces among nations such that no single nation is strong enough to assert its will or dominate all the others.

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balance of power British  

noun

1. the distribution of power among countries so that no one nation can seriously threaten the fundamental interests of another

2. any similar distribution of power or influence

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balance of power Cultural  

1. A state of peace that results when rival nations are equally powerful and therefore have no good reason to wage war.

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Etymology

Origin of balance of power

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Looking ahead, experts believe AI swarms could significantly affect the balance of power in democratic societies.

From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026

"The regional balance of power is shifting away from Iran," she says.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

The balance of power among AI frontier labs is undergoing a seismic shift yet again, as OpenAI finds itself fending off challengers in a race that it once dominated alone.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026

In contrast, the Pentagon’s new strategy document underscores the administration’s interest in opening more military-to-military communications with the Chinese military and reducing tensions to establish a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 24, 2026

In so doing, he successfully shifts the balance of power away from the adults and toward himself.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell