stance

UK: /ˈstæns/ US: /stæns/ ,(stans)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

stance /stæns/   n. [countable]

1. the bearing of the body while standing, esp. in sports:
   He assumed a karate stance.
2. a mental or emotional position or opinion taken with respect to something:
   the governor's stance on the issue of aid to higher education.

See -stan-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stance (stans),  n. 

1. the position or bearing of the body while standing:
   legs spread in a wide stance; the threatening stance of the bull.
2. a mental or emotional position adopted with respect to something:
   They assumed an increasingly hostile stance in their foreign policy.
3. [Sports.] the relative position of the feet, as in addressing a golf ball or in making a stroke.

• Vulgar Latin *stantia, derivative of Latin stant- (stem of stāns), present participle of stāre to stand
• Old French estance (standing) position
• 1525–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stance / stæns stɑːns/ noun

1. the manner and position in which a person or animal stands
2. the posture assumed when about to play the ball, as in golf, cricket, etc
3. general emotional or intellectual attitude: a leftist stance
4. a place where buses or taxis wait

Etymology: 16th Century: via French from Italian stanza place for standing, from Latin stāns, from stāre to stand