posture
[pos-cher]
- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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Origin of posture
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com2. See position.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for posturing
Contemporary Examples
There was no acting, no posturing, as Ben delivered the news.
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
So when Democrats decry money in politics are they really being serious, or are they just posturing?
Instead, this is all about election year posturing for both sides.
In short, Jake Bugg should be a rather irritating character—a posturing rock brat, perhaps.
Historical Examples
There was an extraordinary force of suggestion in this posturing.
The Secret AgentJoseph Conrad
Remember that while you're posturing in your little hour of glory on Athena and Earth.
Space PrisonTom Godwin
She began at once calling and posturing, clearly for our benefit.
Little Brothers of the AirOlive Thorne Miller
What a statue gallery of posturing friends we all have in our memory!
The Poet at the Breakfast TableOliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Music (it is called by that name) and posturing fill up the intervals.
Due WestMaturin Murray Ballou
posture
- 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
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- to assume or cause to assume a bodily position or attitude
- (intr) to assume an affected or unnatural bodily or mental posture; pose
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Word Origin
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
Word Origin and History for posturing
posture
n.
c.1600, from French posture (16c.), from Italian postura "position, posture," from Latin positura "position, station," from postulus, past participle of ponere "put, place" (see position (n.)).
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posture
v.
1620s, literal, from posture (n.). The figurative sense of "take up an artificial mental position" is attested from 1877. Related: Postured; posturing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
posture
(pŏs′chər)- A position of the body or of body parts.
- A characteristic or prescribed way of bearing one's body; carriage.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.