imbalance
noun
im·bal·ance
(ˌ)im-ˈba-lən(t)s 
plural imbalances
: lack of balance : the state of being out of equilibrium or out of proportion
a structural imbalance
a chemical imbalance in the brain
"… The talks are aimed at reducing the trade imbalance … between the world`s two largest economic powers. …"—
Norah O'Donnell
Norah O'DonnellA key element of the definition of bullying is a power imbalance that enables the abusive behavior.—Patricia Vowinkel
Patricia VowinkelSome have suffered an imbalance of gait known as ataxia.—Lawrence K. Altman
Lawrence K. AltmanExamples of imbalance in a Sentence
Her depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
the problem of racial imbalance in schools
Recent Examples on the Web
This enlargement can be caused by several conditions, including a hormonal imbalance, lifestyle choices, underlying health conditions, drug use, and prescription medications.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 21 Sep. 2025
Trump also made modest gains among white women, though white men continued to back him more strongly, preserving the longstanding gender imbalance.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
This area is crucial for handling complex, urban delivery environments and fluctuating demand, yet many companies still use static zoning, leading to imbalances in workload and higher costs.
—Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025
While some economists defend it as efficient and rational, many people (along with philosophers and politicians), denounce it as making inequality worse and creating unfair power imbalances between consumers and owners.
—Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imbalance
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Sherri Gordon, Health, 21 Sep. 2025
Trump also made modest gains among white women, though white men continued to back him more strongly, preserving the longstanding gender imbalance.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
This area is crucial for handling complex, urban delivery environments and fluctuating demand, yet many companies still use static zoning, leading to imbalances in workload and higher costs.
—Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025
While some economists defend it as efficient and rational, many people (along with philosophers and politicians), denounce it as making inequality worse and creating unfair power imbalances between consumers and owners.
—Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imbalance
Cite this Entry
“Imbalance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imbalance. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
imbalance
noun
im·bal·ance
(ˈ)im-ˈbal-ən(t)s
: the state of being out of balance or out of proportion
Medical Definition
imbalance
noun
im·bal·ance
(ˈ)im-ˈbal-ən(t)s
: lack of balance : the state of being out of equilibrium or out of proportion: as
a
: loss of parallel relation between the optical axes of the eyes caused by faulty action of the extrinsic muscles and often resulting in diplopia
b
: absence of biological equilibrium
a vitamin imbalance
if the ductus arteriosus fails to close, a circulatory imbalance results—E. B. Steen & Ashley Montagu
E. B. Steen & Ashley Montagu
c
: a disproportion between the number of males and females in a population
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