posture

[ pos-cher ]

/ ˈpɒs tʃər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR posture ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the relative disposition of the parts of something.

the position of the limbs or the carriage of the body as a whole: poor posture; a sitting posture.

an affected or unnatural attitude: He struck a comic posture.

a mental or spiritual attitude: His ideas reveal a defensive posture.

one's image or policy as perceived by the public, other nations, etc.: The company wants to develop a more aggressive marketing posture.

position, condition, or state, as of affairs.

verb (used with object), pos·tured, pos·tur·ing.

to place in a particular posture or attitude.

to position, especially strategically: to posture troops along a border.

to develop a policy or stance for (oneself, a company, government, etc.): The White House postured itself for dealing with the fuel crisis.

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.

to assume a particular posture.

to assume affected or unnatural postures, as by bending or contorting the body.

to act in an affected or artificial manner, as to create a certain impression.

Nearby words

postural drainage, postural position, postural proteinuria, postural syncope, postural vertigo, posture, posture sense, posturize, postvaccinal encephalitis, postvalvar, postvertebral

Origin of posture

1595–1605; < French < Italian postura < Latin positūra. See posit, -ure

SYNONYMS FOR posture

2 See position.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR posture ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

pos·tur·al, adjectivepos·tur·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for posturing

There was no acting, no posturing, as Ben delivered the news.
Ben Bradlee Was the Last of the Newspaper Giants|Tom Shales|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Sciortino cut her teeth in that world of excess irony, cynicism, and posturing.
Is This Dildo-Licking, Dominatrix-Loving Vogue Blogger the New Face of Feminism?|Lizzie Crocker|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So when Democrats decry money in politics are they really being serious, or are they just posturing?
The Democrats’ Free-Speech Hypocrisy|Lloyd Green|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead, this is all about election year posturing for both sides.
Groundhog Day With Minimum Wage On Capitol Hill|Ben Jacobs|April 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In short, Jake Bugg should be a rather irritating character—a posturing rock brat, perhaps.
Jake Bugg Isn’t the New Bob Dylan. He’s the Male Adele.|Andrew Romano|November 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
That fat, posturing toad lied to them and they still honor him.
Shaman|Robert Shea
He, with his illegal Betty ogling and double-entendre-ing and posturing opposite!
Doctor Cupid|Rhoda Broughton
Adam would have died of starvation while his garrulous master was posturing.
Punch, or, the London Charivari, Volume 98, March 8, 1890.|Various
She took no time for posturing or swanning, but tilted immediately off in a stiff dive, angling toward the west side of the tank.
The Little Lady of the Big House|Jack London
A guecha is a singer or dancer (posturing), or both, and one or more generally attend dinner-parties and festivities of any kind.
Alone with the Hairy Ainu|A. H. Savage Landor

British Dictionary definitions for posturing

posture

/ (ˈpɒstʃə) /

noun

a position or attitude of the limbs or body

a characteristic manner of bearing the body; carriageto have good posture

the disposition of the parts of a visible object

a mental attitude or frame of mind

a state, situation, or condition

a false or affected attitude; pose

verb

to assume or cause to assume a bodily position or attitude

(intr) to assume an affected or unnatural bodily or mental posture; pose

Derived Forms

postural, adjectiveposturer, noun

Word Origin for posture

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for posturing

posture

[ pŏs′chər ]

n.

A position of the body or of body parts.

A characteristic or prescribed way of bearing one's body; carriage.