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balance.

A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.

7 characters2 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/ˈbæləns/
  1. A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.

    uncountable
  2. Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.

    uncountable
  3. Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight.

    countable · figuratively · literally · uncountable
    These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah.
    Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.
  4. A pair of scales.

    countable · uncountable
  5. Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.

    uncountable
  6. The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others.

    uncountable
    The balance of power finally lay with the Royalist forces.
    I think the balance of opinion is that we should get out while we're ahead.
  7. Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.).

    uncountable
  8. A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.

    countable · uncountable
  9. The result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account.

    countable · uncountable
    I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance.
  10. A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.

    countable · uncountable
  11. The remainder.

    countable · uncountable
    The balance of the agreement remains in effect.
    The invoice said he had only paid $50. The balance was $220.
  12. Libra.

    countable · obsolete · uncountable
Where this word comes from

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Italic *dwi- Latin bi- Latin lanx Latin bilanx Vulgar Latin *bilancia Old French balancebor. Middle English balaunce English balance From Middle English balaunce, from Old French balance, from Late Latin *bilancia, from (accusative form of) Latin bilanx (“two-scaled”), from bi- + lanx (“plate, scale”). Displaced the word — Old English wǣġ akin to Modern English: wey from Proto-West Germanic *wāgu (“scales; weight”).

verb/ˈbæləns/
  1. To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.

    transitive
  2. To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights. To move while remaining balanced on a narrow or precarious support (e.g., a wire, ledge or rope).

    intransitive · reflexive · transitive
    She balanced along the wire while the crowd watched in rapt attention.
    They must balance themselves down the fence until they reach the end.
  3. To make (concepts) agree.

    figuratively · transitive
  4. To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.

    transitive
    I balanced my mug of coffee on my knee.
    The circus performer balances a plate on the end of a baton.
  5. To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.

    transitive
  6. To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.

    transitive
    to balance partners
  7. To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.

    transitive
    to balance the boom mainsail
  8. To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.

    transitive
    to balance a set of books
    This final payment, or credit, balances the account.
  9. To be in equilibrium.

    intransitive
  10. To have matching credits and debits.

    intransitive
  11. To weigh in a balance.

    obsolete · transitive
  12. To hesitate or fluctuate.

    intransitive · obsolete
Where this word comes from

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Italic *dwi- Latin bi- Latin lanx Latin bilanx Vulgar Latin *bilancia Old French balancebor. Middle English balaunce English balance From Middle English balaunce, from Old French balance, from Late Latin *bilancia, from (accusative form of) Latin bilanx (“two-scaled”), from bi- + lanx (“plate, scale”). Displaced the word — Old English wǣġ akin to Modern English: wey from Proto-West Germanic *wāgu (“scales; weight”).

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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.