posture
B2Formal-neutral
Definition
Meaning
The position of a person's body when standing, sitting, or moving.
A mental or political attitude, stance, or position, often adopted deliberately.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Posture refers to the physical alignment of the body, but its extended meaning (an attitude or position taken on an issue) is common and uses the same conceptual metaphor of physical stance representing a non-physical position.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or spelling. Both use 'posture' as a noun and verb.
Connotations
Similar connotations of physical health or a deliberate stance. The political/defence sense ('nuclear posture') is slightly more frequent in American English.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English in formal/business contexts (e.g., 'market posture').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Posture [as NP] (He postured as an expert.)Posture [towards NP] (The company's posture towards regulation is cautious.)Adopt/take a [ADJ] posture (They adopted a conciliatory posture.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Strike a posture (to adopt an exaggerated physical or mental stance)”
- “Power posture (a confident, expansive bodily stance intended to convey authority)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a company's strategic position or market stance (e.g., 'Our competitive posture is strong').
Academic
Used in anatomy, physiotherapy, psychology (embodied cognition), and political science.
Everyday
Most commonly refers to the physical alignment of the back and shoulders.
Technical
In physiotherapy/ergonomics: the biomechanical alignment of the body. In zoology: an animal's bodily stance.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He tends to posture during meetings, making grand gestures to impress.
- The minister was accused of posturing for the cameras rather than addressing the issue.
American English
- The CEO postured as an industry visionary during the keynote.
- Politicians often posture on defence spending ahead of an election.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form; 'posturally' is rare/technical).
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form; 'posturally' is rare/technical).
adjective
British English
- N/A (The adjective is 'postural', e.g., 'postural hypotension').
American English
- N/A (The adjective is 'postural', e.g., 'postural alignment therapy').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Sit with a straight posture at your desk.
- Good posture is important for your back.
- The yoga teacher helped me improve my posture.
- The government's posture on the environment has changed.
- Years at a computer had given him terrible posture and back pain.
- The company adopted a more aggressive posture towards its competitors.
- Her imperious posture betrayed a lifetime of privilege and command.
- The diplomatic posture of neutrality became increasingly difficult to maintain as the conflict escalated.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
POSTURE has POST in it. Think of a fence POST standing straight and tall – that's good POSTURE.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTITUDES/OPINIONS ARE PHYSICAL POSITIONS (e.g., 'He took a tough posture on the issue.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'посылка' (parcel). The Russian word 'поза' is a closer match for the physical sense, while 'позиция' covers the attitudinal sense.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'She has a very good postural.' (Use noun 'posture' or adjective 'postural' correctly: 'She has good posture' / 'She has postural problems').
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'posture' most likely refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While the core meaning is physical, it is frequently used metaphorically for attitudes, policies, or strategic positions (e.g., political posture, market posture).
A 'pose' is often a temporary, deliberate position for effect (e.g., for a photo). 'Posture' refers to a more habitual or characteristic way of holding the body, or a sustained attitude.
Yes. As a verb, it means to adopt a physical or mental stance, often in an exaggerated or insincere way to impress (e.g., 'He postured as an art critic').
It is neutral but leans towards formal. In everyday talk about back health, it's common. Its extended meanings (political, business) are more formal.