Imbalance
/ɪmˈbæləns/
Definitions
2 meaningsA lack of balance or symmetry; a disproportion.
/ɪmˈbæləns/
A lack of proportion or symmetry.
The government is trying to address the imbalance in the healthcare system.
💡 Simply: Think of it like a seesaw where one side is way up in the air and the other is down on the ground – that's an imbalance! It's when things aren't even or fair.
👶 For kids: When things are not the same on both sides. Like if you have too many toys on one side of your room and not enough on the other!
More Examples
An emotional imbalance can affect your decision making.
The architectural design suffered from an imbalance in visual weight.
How It's Used
"The economic imbalance between supply and demand led to a market crash."
"Hormonal imbalance can cause various physical and emotional symptoms."
To throw something out of balance; to cause or contribute to a lack of equilibrium or proportion.
/ɪmˈbæləns/
To disrupt or cause a lack of balance.
The new policy imbalanced the regional distribution of resources.
💡 Simply: To mess up the balance of something. Imagine you're playing a game and change the rules to give one side a huge advantage – that's like imbalancing things!
👶 For kids: To make something not be even or fair, like making one side of a swing set heavier than the other.
More Examples
Excessive spending imbalanced the company's budget.
Certain events can imbalance the delicate ecosystem of a forest.
How It's Used
"Political actions can imbalance power dynamics."
"Rapid economic changes can imbalance societal structures."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
From 'im-' (not) + 'balance,' ultimately from Latin 'bi' (two) + 'lanx' (scale).
Used since the late 17th century, referring to a state of being unbalanced or disproportionate, reflecting the development of scientific concepts of equilibrium.
Memory tip
Imagine scales where one side is much heavier than the other; that's an imbalance.
Word Origin
"to weigh; equilibrium"