imbalance

American  

[im-bal-uhns] / ɪmˈbæl əns /

noun

1. the state or condition of lacking balance, as in proportion or distribution.

2. faulty muscular or glandular coordination.

---

imbalance British  

/ ɪmˈbæləns /

noun

1. a lack of balance, as in emphasis, proportion, etc

   the political imbalance of the programme

---

Etymology

Origin of imbalance

First recorded in 1895–1900; im- ² + balance

Example Sentences

High housing costs and mortgage have caused many house hunters to retreat, creating an imbalance of buyers and sellers.

From The Wall Street Journal

It can instead exploit the imbalance, turning the difference in tactics and goals to its own advantage.

From The Wall Street Journal

UPFs have have changed the way people eat and have grown to make up such a large portion of people’s diets that they can lead to nutritional imbalances.

From MarketWatch

“With access to the U.S. market becoming more difficult, the imbalance leaves the region exposed,” the economists say.

From The Wall Street Journal

For the first time, the WMO climate report includes the planet's energy imbalance: the rate at which energy enters and leaves the Earth system.

From Barron's

Related Words

• inequality
• shortcoming