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 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

The unbalanced blood flow between babies leads to a build-up of excess fluid around the larger recipient baby and a dangerous lack of fluid around the smaller donor baby, potentially harming both.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 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

"My load is unbalanced, I find, and I need to carry your pack as well as my own to even the weight, if you do not object."

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

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Related Words

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

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