stance

Stance is a term used to describe either the position of a person’s body when standing or the attitude a person expresses on a particular issue. In physical sense, it refers to posture, balance, and how weight is distributed. In rhetorical or political contexts, it denotes an explicit or inferred viewpoint. The word stems from the noun stand with the suffix -ance and has been used in English since the late Middle Ages to describe a standing position.

In physical practice, stance governs how the feet, legs, hips, and torso align to support movement. A neutral or athletic stance keeps the body centered and ready to respond. Specific disciplines prescribe particular stances, such as boxing, martial arts, or archery, where foot placement, knee bend, and hip orientation influence reach, stability, and speed. Stances are often adjusted for terrain, weather, or tactical needs and can be altered as a technique evolves.

In discourse, to take a stance is to adopt a position on an issue and to articulate reasons or evidence in support. Stance-taking can be explicit, as in a published policy position, or implicit, conveyed through tone, framing, and selection of facts. Analysts study stances to understand bias, persuasion, and how arguments are constructed within debates or journalism.

Other uses include the stance of a model or subject in photography or performance, and in linguistics where stance markers indicate the speaker’s attitude toward the proposition. Across contexts, stance describes how people orient themselves physically and attitudinally in response to situations.