posture

[ pos-cher ]

noun

1. the relative disposition of the parts of something.
2. the position of the limbs or the carriage of the body as a whole:

   poor posture; a sitting posture.

3. an affected or unnatural attitude:

   He struck a comic posture.

4. a mental or spiritual attitude:

   His ideas reveal a defensive posture.

5. one's image or policy as perceived by the public, other nations, etc.:

   The company wants to develop a more aggressive marketing posture.

6. position, condition, or state, as of affairs.

verb (used with object)

, pos·tured, pos·tur·ing.

1. to place in a particular posture or attitude.
2. to position, especially strategically:

   to posture troops along a border.

3. to develop a policy or stance for (oneself, a company, government, etc.):

   The White House postured itself for dealing with the fuel crisis.

4. to adopt an attitude or take an official position on (a matter):

   The company postured that the court's ruling could be interpreted as being in its favor.

verb (used without object)

, pos·tured, pos·tur·ing.

1. to assume a particular posture.
2. to assume affected or unnatural postures, as by bending or contorting the body.
3. to act in an affected or artificial manner, as to create a certain impression.

posture

/ ˈpɒstʃə /

noun

1. a position or attitude of the limbs or body
2. a characteristic manner of bearing the body; carriage

   to have good posture

3. the disposition of the parts of a visible object
4. a mental attitude or frame of mind
5. a state, situation, or condition
6. a false or affected attitude; pose

verb

1. to assume or cause to assume a bodily position or attitude
2. intr to assume an affected or unnatural bodily or mental posture; pose

Derived Forms

• ˈpostural, adjective
• ˈposturer, noun

Other Words From

• pos·tur·al adjective
• pos·tur·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of posture¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from French, from Italian postura, from Latin positūra. See posit, -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of posture¹

C17: via French from Italian postura, from Latin positūra, from pōnere to place

Synonym Study

See position.

Example Sentences

Lightweight avian-inspired feet composed of two articulated structures leverage a passive elastic joint that supports diverse postures for walking, hopping, and jumping.

From Science Daily

The newcomers’ defensive posture against Trump is in sync with the school board members they will join next week.

From Los Angeles Times

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative who recently said he would be building a "perfect security posture together" with the incoming Trump administration, on Tuesday announced that he was declaring martial law.

From Salon

Both species possessed upright postures, bipedalism and were highly agile.

From Science Daily

That posture will surely ruffle the feathers of an “America First” president enamored of dictators and disdainful of allies.

From Los Angeles Times