posture

UK: /ˈpɒstʃə^r/ US: /ˈpɑstʃɚ/ ,(pos′chər)

Inflections of 'posture' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

postures

v 3rd person singular

posturing

v pres p

postured

v past

postured

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pos•ture /ˈpɑstʃɚ/   n., v., -tured, -tur•ing. 
n. 

1. the position of the arms, legs, etc., or the way the body is held by a person when standing, etc.:
   [uncountable] She had poor posture as a child.
   [countable] She held several postures while the sculptor worked.
2. a mental attitude or stance, as that adopted by a company or government:
   [countable] a low posture, in which we are seen as avoiding interference.

v. [no object]

3. to act falsely, so as to create a certain impression:
   The negotiators were just posturing when they demanded such high wage increases.

See -pos-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pos•ture  (pos′chər), n., v., -tured, -tur•ing. 
n. 

1. the relative disposition of the parts of something.
2. the position of the limbs or the carriage of the body as a whole:
   poor posture; a sitting posture.
3. an affected or unnatural attitude:
   He struck a comic posture.
4. a mental or spiritual attitude:
   His ideas reveal a defensive posture.
5. one's image or policy as perceived by the public, other nations, etc.:
   The company wants to develop a more aggressive marketing posture.
6. position, condition, or state, as of affairs.

v.t. 

7. to place in a particular posture or attitude.
8. to position, esp. strategically:
   to posture troops along a border.
9. to develop a policy or stance for (oneself, a company, government, etc.):
   The White House postured itself for dealing with the fuel crisis.
10. to adopt an attitude or take an official position on (a matter):
    The company postured that the court's ruling could be interpreted as being in its favor.

v.i. 

11. to assume a particular posture.
12. to assume affected or unnatural postures, as by bending or contorting the body.
13. to act in an affected or artificial manner, as to create a certain impression.

• Latin positūra. See posit, -ure
• Italian postura
• French
• 1595–1605

pos′tur•al, adj. 
pos′tur•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. See position. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

posture / ˈpɒstʃə/ noun

1. a position or attitude of the limbs or body
2. a characteristic manner of bearing the body; carriage: to have good posture
3. the disposition of the parts of a visible object
4. a mental attitude or frame of mind
5. a state, situation, or condition
6. a false or affected attitude; pose

verb

1. to assume or cause to assume a bodily position or attitude
2. (intransitive) to assume an affected or unnatural bodily or mental posture; pose

Etymology: 17th Century: via French from Italian postura, from Latin positūra, from pōnere to place

ˈpostural adjective

ˈposturer noun