Showing results for "unbalanced"

• past participle of unbalance.
• past tense form of unbalance.

unbalanced

American  

[uhn-bal-uhnst] / ʌnˈbæl ənst /

adjective

1. not balanced or not properly balanced.

2. lacking steadiness and soundness of judgment.

3. mentally disordered; deranged.

   Synonyms:

   irrational, unsound, disturbed

4. (of an account) not adjusted; not brought to an equality of debits and credits.

5. Football. of or relating to an offensive line formation having more than three linemen on one side of the center.

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unbalanced British  

/ ʌnˈbælənst /

adjective

1. lacking balance

2. irrational or unsound; erratic

3. mentally disordered or deranged

4. biased; one-sided

   unbalanced reporting

5. (in double-entry book-keeping) not having total debit balances equal to total credit balances

6. electronics (of signals or circuitry) not symmetrically disposed about earth or zero reference potential

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Etymology

Origin of unbalanced

First recorded in 1640–50; un- ¹ + balanced

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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

See Examples For:

unbalanced

When that community becomes unbalanced, potentially harmful bacteria can become more dominant and contribute to conditions such as periodontal disease.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

The U.S. mission to speed traffic through the strait hangs on an unbalanced fight against underwater risks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

It left the squad mediocre and unbalanced as expensive new acquisitions spluttered or suffered injuries, while their recruitment team failed to deliver one of their most significant targets.

From BBC ● May 30, 2026

And while there had been growth, it had been "unbalanced", he said, with around a third coming from the creation of artificial intelligence data centres.

From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 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

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Related Words

• irregular
• lopsided
• top-heavy
• unequal
• uneven
• unstable
• unsteady
• wobbly

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