kilter

American  

[kil-ter] / ˈkɪl tər /

noun

1. good condition; order.

   The engine was out of kilter.

2. Poker. skeet.

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kilter British  

/ ˈkɪltə /

noun

1. working order or alignment (esp in the phrases off kilter, out of kilter )

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kilter Idioms  

1. see out of kilter.

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Etymology

Origin of kilter

First recorded in 1630–40; variant of dial. kelter < ?

Example Sentences

"These are things that we didn't recommend for the other parts of the UK because they are so far out of kilter with the steps we feel the country needs to take over all."

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2024

For a hurricane to grow in strength, it must also be free of cross-cutting winds, known as wind shear, which can tear holes in the walls of the storm’s eye or throw it off kilter.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 26, 2023

Many of them became homeless after an event that kicked a fragile financial situation off kilter.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2023

The fact Burrow was off kilter last week wasn’t entirely surprising.

From Washington Times • Sep. 14, 2023

This is mostly because everything’s out of kilter here.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank