on balance

Idioms  

1. Taking everything into consideration, as in On balance I think we've had a very good year. This expression, which in effect means “balancing all the factors involved,” was first recorded in 1719.

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Example Sentences

That A.I. detection is finally catching up is, on balance, a Good Thing.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026

“The lack of disclosure and contractual complexity of these arrangements makes it difficult for investors to interpret true economic leverage versus that reported on balance sheet,” Castagno’s team writes.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

According to the report, consumer spending increased slightly on balance across the country, led by high-income Americans.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Yet launching a conversation around mental health with an audience magnet as powerful as Radcliffe is on balance an excellent thing.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

To begin with, there are the demands on balance, coordination, and reflex.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand