balcony

[bal-kuh-nee]

noun

plural

balconies 

1. a balustraded or railed elevated platform projecting from the wall of a building.

2. a gallery in a theater.

balcony

/ ˈbælkənɪ /

noun

1. 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

2. a gallery in a theatre or auditorium, above the dress circle

3. any circle or gallery in a theatre or auditorium including the dress circle

Other Word Forms

• balconied adjective
• unbalconied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of balcony¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of balcony¹

C17: from Italian balcone , probably from Old High German balko beam; see _balk

Example Sentences

I use a clothesline on the balcony and a laundromat nearby in case I have an urgent need to dry things.

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The unit is located on the 10th floor and features a large living room with light-wood walls, recessed lighting, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a private balcony.

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There, tottering on the edge of the railing that circled the parlor’s private balcony, was Edward Ashton.

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She rose and stepped through the tall French windows that led to her private balcony.

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We would wonder aloud about things like why we couldn’t go the ice rink with the White children or why we had to sit in the balcony of the movie theater.

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Related Words

• box 
• gallery 
• mezzanine 
• platform 
• porch 
• stoop 
• terrace 
• veranda