balcony

American  

[bal-kuh-nee] / ˈbæl kə ni /

noun

• balconies
  plural

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

2. a gallery in a theater.

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balcony British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• balconied
  adjective
• unbalconied
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• balconies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of balcony

1610–20; < Italian balcone balcony, floor-length window < Langobardic (compare Old High German balc ( h ) o, accusative singular balcon beam; see balk); sense extended from the beam over an aperture to the aperture itself

Compare meaning

How does balcony compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• veranda vs. balcony
• mezzanine vs. balcony

Explanation

A balcony is a porch or platform that extends from an upper floor of a building. Your apartment might have a balcony with a view of a city park. Most balconies have railings around them to protect people from tumbling off, and many balconies provide an interesting view. You might linger on the balcony of your hotel room in Hawaii, enjoying the warm air and the distant glimpse of the ocean it gives you. Balcony comes from the Italian balcone, which in turn comes from balcone, or "scaffold." The root is most likely Germanic, possibly related to the Old English balca, "beam or ridge."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

balcony balconies

The restored theater features a reconfigured 729-seat auditorium, new mezzanine and balcony seating, a lounge area, full stage with wings and crossover space, dressing rooms and a green room.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

I was leaning over a balcony and realized how ridiculous I looked.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

Meanwhile, the primary suite is the epitome of luxury, featuring a private sitting area, steam shower, and a balcony overlooking the picturesque grounds.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

It’s felt between the actors on stage and from the orchestra pit to the last row of balcony seats.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

Instead of a carved wooden bureau and a set of French doors leading to a balcony, she saw walls of rough stone.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Under the redevelopment plans, there will be a new lift and staircase in the conservatory to allow public access to raised balconies.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

In keeping with the couple’s emphasis on indoor/outdoor living, the property features multiple French doors that open up directly to the yard, along with several balconies.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

People celebrated on roofs, on fire escapes, at watch parties in parks and bars, at Radio City Music Hall, atop buses, on the balconies of Times Square hotels, on airplanes and in subway cars.

From Salon ● Jun. 17, 2026

Riviera is a theater, sitting low beneath high hillsides that almost serve as balconies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

As he approached, he saw soldiers in the alleyway, on the roof, on the ramps and balconies.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

Related Words

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