noun
stance
stans
noun
1
The way someone stands, including their posture and the position of their feet.
"The golfer adjusted his stance before swinging."
2
A position or opinion held on an issue.
"The senator softened her stance on the new tax bill."
"He took a firm stance against the proposal."
How to Use Stance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow someone is physically standing, or the position they take on an issue.
Easily confused with
stanza
Common pairings
take a stance
firm stance
shooting stance
Word Forms
stanced past tense, stances plural, stances singular
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Etymology
From Old French estance, related to Italian stanza and ultimately to Latin stare, "to stand" — the same root as "stand" and "stanza."