on balance

on bal·an·cé

O o

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [on, awn bal-uh n-sey]
- /ɒn, ɔn ˌbæl ənˈseɪ/
- /ɒn ˈbæləns/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [on, awn bal-uh n-sey]
- /ɒn, ɔn ˌbæl ənˈseɪ/

Definitions of on balance words

noun on balance a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc. 1
noun on balance something used to produce equilibrium; counterpoise. 1
noun on balance mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc. 1
noun on balance a state of bodily equilibrium: He lost his balance and fell down the stairs. 1
noun on balance an instrument for determining weight, typically by the equilibrium of a bar with a fulcrum at the center, from each end of which is suspended a scale or pan, one holding an object of known weight, and the other holding the object to be weighed. 1
noun on balance the remainder or rest: He carried what he could and left the balance for his brother to bring. 1

See all 34 definitions of on balance

Information block about the term

Origin of on balance

First appearance:

before 1250

One of the 11% oldest English words

1250-1300; Middle English balaunce < Anglo-French; Old French balance < Vulgar Latin *balancia, variant of *bilancia, equivalent to Late Latin bilanc- (stem of bilanx with double scales; Latin bi- bi-1 + lanx metal dish, pan of a pair of scales) + -ia -ia

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for On balance

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of On balance

on balance popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

on balance usage trend in Literature

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