Balanced

How to spell balanced

8 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce balanced

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does balanced mean?

1. adjectiveIn a stable state of equal distribution, or fair and even in treatment and proportion.
2. verbPast tense of balance: kept or brought into equilibrium, or settled accounts so totals matched.

Balanced in a sentence

• adjective

  A balanced diet includes plenty of vegetables and whole grains.

• verb

  The accountant balanced the books before the end of the quarter.

• adjective

  The report gave a balanced view of both political parties.

• verb

  She balanced the tray of glasses carefully as she crossed the room.

Where does balanced come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word traces back to the Latin phrase libra bilanx, where bilanx described a balance 'having two scale pans', built from bi- meaning 'two' and lanx meaning 'plate' or 'scale pan'. The noun balance reached English in the 1200s through Old French, naming the familiar two-pan weighing device, and from the idea of two pans hanging in even equilibrium came the broader senses of steadiness, fairness, and an accounting total that is settled. The verb 'to balance' developed from that noun, and 'balanced' is simply its past form with the regular -ed ending. A useful spelling cue is that the silent second syllable is 'lan', echoing the old lanx pan, so the word is bal-anc-ed, not bal-enc-ed. The same lanx root still hides inside the financial term 'balance sheet' and the word 'balcony' is unrelated despite the look.

How the word is built

• bi- (two)
• lanc/lanx (scale pan)
• -ed (past participle/adjective suffix)