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

See Examples For:

balance of power

He took aim at other labs that are "focused on building AI for companies, governments or other institutions," arguing that this would tip the balance of power in favor of institutions instead of individuals.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

Our chief China correspondent, Lingling Wei, takes you through how this reporting came together—and what this shift means for the global balance of power.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

It’s hard with parent-child relationships due to that very balance of power when it comes to finances.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026

But, in effect, this radically tipped the balance of power in favor of a series of headstrong police chiefs, who sought to insulate the department from political interference.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026

During those times when Italy enjoyed a balance of power to a certain extent, this advice may have been a good policy.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli