balanced

[ bal-uhnst ]

adjective

1. fairly or equally containing a diversity of views, aspects, ingredients, activities, etc.:

   The course provides a balanced program of study in painting, design, sculpture, and ceramics.

   Some newspapers provided more balanced coverage of the conflict.

2. being in harmonious or proper arrangement or adjustment, proportion, etc.:

   These guidelines will help beginning photographers achieve a balanced composition in each shot.

   Synonyms: evenhanded, impartial, just, equitable, fair

3. (of a budget) showing enough revenue or income to cover all expenses:

   Our newly formed Finance Council will promote a balanced budget and long-range financial planning.

4. (of an investment portfolio) including investments of a variety of types or in a variety of sectors so as to maximize returns with a manageable level of risk:

   Stocks can help you achieve a balanced portfolio when combined with fixed-income investments such as bonds.

5. Football. pertaining to or noting an offensive line formation having three linemen on each side of the center. Compare unbalanced ( def 5 ).

balanced

/ ˈbælənst /

adjective

1. having weight evenly distributed; being in a state of equilibrium
2. (of a person) mentally and emotionally stable
3. (of a discussion, programme, etc) presenting opposing points of view fairly and without bias
4. (of a diet) consisting of all essential nutrients in suitable form and amounts to maintain health
5. (of a budget) having expenditure no greater than income
6. electronics (of signals or circuitry) symmetrically disposed about earth or other reference potential
7. (of a chemical equation) having the correct relative number of moles of reactants and products

Other Words From

• self-bal·anced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of balanced¹

First recorded in 1585–95; balance + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The real difficulty is that competing accounts circulate in parallel universes that are not even close to balanced in their reach.

From MIT Technology Review

The motor weight at the rear hub can make a bike feel oddly balanced.

From Outside Online

While likely balancing meltdowns, preparing balanced meals and trying to ensure continuity in their children’s education, parents have had a difficult time.

From Search Engine Land

The prevailing view that sperm tails move in a balanced way, however, doesn’t capture what actually happens in three dimensions, researchers report July 31 in Science Advances.

From Science News

These oars were also counter-balanced with the lead that made them easier to handle for the oarsmen.

From Realm of History

That means Japanese whiskies are beautifully balanced and elegant; they touch and develop on every sensor on the palate.

From The Daily Beast

Or, this year, the ways in which religious liberty (both real and imagined) is balanced against civil rights.

From The Daily Beast

The Great Invisible is something of a marvel—a balanced, unabridged portrait of life before and after the BP disaster.

From The Daily Beast

Then, as the car pulled away, he again began his slow movements with the girl delicately balanced on the hitching post.

From The Daily Beast

She now chronicles her recovery in her re-branded site called The Balanced Blonde.

From The Daily Beast

In any social movement, then, change and alteration in a new direction must be balanced against the demands of social stability.

From Project Gutenberg

But the balanced forces once displaced would be seen constantly to come to an equilibrium at a new point.

From Project Gutenberg

The introduction of the balanced Swell pedal (Walcker, 1863) has greatly increased the tonal resources of the organ.

From Project Gutenberg

These contrivances are applicable only to such organs as have the balanced swell pedal.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps they thought them so nearly divided, and so almost evenly balanced, that the one neutralised the other.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• equitable
• fair