sbilanciato

Sbilanciato is an Italian adjective that denotes lack of balance or equilibrium. It can describe a physical object whose mass is distributed unevenly, causing it to deviate from a centered orientation, or a situation, system, or value that is not in proper proportion or harmony. The related noun sbilancio refers to the imbalance itself, while the verb sbilanciare means to unbalance or tilt away from balance.

Etymology and usage notes: the term derives from bilancia, meaning balance, with the adding of s- and the participial suffix -ato, and is formed from the verb sbilanciare. In engineering, everyday language, and journalism, sbilanciato and sbilancio are used across contexts to indicate deviations from symmetry, even when the causes or implications vary.

Mechanical context: in engineering and manufacturing, a rotating body is sbilanciato when its mass distribution is not symmetric about the axis of rotation. This can be due to static imbalance (center of gravity not on the rotation axis) or dynamic imbalance (mass distribution causes vibration as the object spins). Consequences include vibrations, noise, increased wear, and reduced performance. Remedies involve balancing procedures, such as adding counterweights or adjusting mass distribution, often using specialized equipment to measure and correct the imbalance.

Other uses: sbilancio is also used in finance, accounting, and public administration to describe an imbalance between income and expenditure, or between assets and liabilities, leading to an unbalanced budget or forecast. Figurative usage applies to systems, organizations, or plans described as sbilanciati when they lack cohesion, fairness, or stability.

See also: equilibrio, bilanciamento, sbilancio.