stance
pronunciation
How to pronounce stance in British English:
UK [stæns]
How to pronounce stance in American English:
US [stæns]
-
- Noun:
- standing posture
- a rationalized mental attitude
Word Origin
- stance
- stance: see stanza
- stance (n.)
- 1530s, "standing place, station," probably from Middle French stance "resting place, harbor" (16c.), from Vulgar Latin *stantia "place, abode" (also source of Italian stanza "stopping place, station, stanza," Spanish stancia "a dwelling"), from Latin stans (genitive stantis), present participle of stare "to stand," from PIE root *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Sense of "position of the feet" (in golf, etc.) is first recorded 1897; figurative sense of "point of view" is recorded from 1956. The sense of the French word has since narrowed.
Example
- 1. Voters rewarded them for their stance on nuclear power .
- 2. But lately I have been rethinking my stance .
- 3. That has been a painful stance lately .
- 4. Their stance has won approving coverage .
- 5. That stance will have big consequences .