Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

balcony

American  
[bal-kuh-nee] / ˈbæl kə ni /

noun

plural

balconies

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

  2. a gallery in a theater.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • balconied adjective
  • unbalconied adjective

Etymology

Origin of balcony

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

Compare meaning

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Among its more impressive features are an extraordinary great room with a 30-foot ceiling, as well as an expansive primary suite that boasts a sitting room, balcony, enormous walk-in closet, and two bathrooms.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Every time a strike came, he ran to the balcony to see where it hit.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

My room was large, with a sectional sofa, two TVs and a balcony overlooking the pool with partial views of the Strip.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

At the National Theatre in Beirut, a small number of mattresses are laid out on the balcony overlooking the stage.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

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

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.