Standard Lemma guide

unbalance

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ʌnˈbæləns/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N B AE1 L AH0 N S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To cause to be out of balance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • If you put that weight on the edge of the tray, it will unbalance it and dump all of the dishes on the floor.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a lack of balance or state of disequilibrium

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a hormonal imbalance

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: imbalance, instability

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: disequilibrium

3

noun

Meaning 3

a state of mental disturbance and disorientation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: derangement, mental unsoundness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: insanity

4

verb

Meaning 4

derange mentally, throw out of mental balance; make insane

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The death of his parents unbalanced him

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: derange

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: madden, craze

5

verb

Meaning 5

throw out of balance or equilibrium

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The tax relief unbalanced the budget
  • The prima donna unbalances the smooth work in our department

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: balance

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- Latin bilanx Vulgar Latin *bilancia Old French balancebor. Middle English balaunce English balance English unbalance From un- + balance.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: изваждам от равновесие (izvaždam ot ravnovesie) — to cause to be out of balance
  • French: désaxer — to cause to be out of balance
  • French: déséquilibrer — to cause to be out of balance
  • Ido: desequilibrigar — to cause to be out of balance
  • Irish: éagothromaigh — to cause to be out of balance
  • Italian: squilibrare — to cause to be out of balance
  • Italian: sbilanciare — to cause to be out of balance
  • Latin: commoveō — to cause to be out of balance
  • Spanish: desequilibrar — to cause to be out of balance
  • Turkish: dengesizlik — to cause to be out of balance