unbalanced
Americanadjective
-
lacking steadiness and soundness of judgment.
-
mentally disordered; deranged.
- Synonyms:
- irrational, unsound, disturbed
-
(of an account) not adjusted; not brought to an equality of debits and credits.
-
Football. of or relating to an offensive line formation having more than three linemen on one side of the center.
adjective
-
lacking balance
-
irrational or unsound; erratic
-
mentally disordered or deranged
-
biased; one-sided
unbalanced reporting
-
(in double-entry book-keeping) not having total debit balances equal to total credit balances
-
electronics (of signals or circuitry) not symmetrically disposed about earth or zero reference potential
Etymology
Origin of unbalanced
Explanation
When something is unbalanced, it's uneven or unstable. If your weight on a surfboard is unbalanced, you risk falling off. Things can be physically unbalanced, like a seesaw with only one kid on it, or more figuratively unbalanced. For example, your mom might think you have an unbalanced diet if you rarely eat vegetables, and you'd describe your high school education as unbalanced if you didn't take any math classes. Another way to be unbalanced is to be mentally ill or emotionally disturbed.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For decades, many scientists have interpreted that signature as evidence that Earth's carbon cycle became dramatically unbalanced on a global scale.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
The Fort Wayne, Ind., resident brought her 2014 Dodge Journey to a mechanic a few years ago and left with unbalanced tires.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
That could be a formation England repeat now Stokes has gone for good, though it does leave the team unbalanced - finding an all-rounder would allow for a five-man attack, including a spinner.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
When their unbalanced lineup of basically three similar point guards have an off night, like against the Celtics, they’re lost.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2026
I duck into the record store, hoping to avoid the stares of anyone who saw me acting unbalanced on the sidewalk.
From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
