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balance

BAL-uns /ˈbæləns/

nounverbA2

neutral

The amount of money you have in your bank account; to make sure that the amounts on both sides of an account are equal.

Can also refer to equilibrium, stability, or the remainder of something.

The story behind the word. The word 'balance' comes from the Old French 'balance', meaning 'pair of scales'. This, in turn, is from the Latin 'bilanx', meaning 'having two scales' (from 'bi-' meaning 'two' and 'lanx' meaning 'plate, scale'). This origin perfectly illustrates the idea of weighing things equally, which applies both to physical equilibrium and to ensuring financial accounts add up correctly.

Word relationships

remainder: Remainder is what is left over; balance is specifically the amount remaining in an account or a state of equilibrium.
equilibrium: Equilibrium is a state of physical balance; financial balance is about equal debits and credits.

imbalance: Imbalance is a lack of balance or equality.

Word family

balanced (adjective): having all its parts in the correct proportions.
unbalanced (adjective): not in proper balance or proportion.

Collocations

account balance
current balance
outstanding balance
check balance
balance the books
work-life balance

Idioms & expressions

strike a balance
hang in the balance

Example sentences

"She checked her account balance online to see if she had enough money for the purchase." Checking an account.
"It's important to balance your work and personal life for overall well-being." Maintaining equilibrium.

Memory hook

Think of a BAL-ance as a set of scales, making sure everything is equal and stable. SCALES equal

When not to use

Avoid using 'balance' when you mean 'the rest' if it could be confused with a financial balance.

Fun facts

The astrological sign Libra, represented by scales, is associated with balance and justice.

Related words

account, statement, overdraft

Explore more words

offset, equilibrium, stability, steady, symmetry, deficit