posture
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the way you hold your body when you sit or stand.
n.the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting.
Simple“Sitting at a desk all day can be bad for your posture if you slouch.”
In context“The yoga instructor emphasized that maintaining a neutral spine is essential for developing a healthy posture during long periods of meditation.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.the way a person or group thinks or behaves toward a specific problem.
n.a particular approach or attitude adopted by an individual or organization toward a specific issue.
Simple“The company took a defensive posture after the news of the data leak.”
In context“The government's aggressive fiscal posture suggests that they are prioritizing rapid economic growth over long-term debt reduction.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to behave in a way that is intended to impress or trick people.
v.to behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead others; often used when someone is pretending to be more powerful than they are.
Simple“The politicians were just posturing for the cameras instead of solving the problem.”
In context“Despite their public posturing about environmental protection, the corporation continued to lobby against stricter carbon emission regulations behind closed doors.”
“This enables them to control their posture and remain as straight as possible.”
Borrowed from Middle French posture, from Italian postura, from Latin positūra (“position, situation”). Doublet of positura.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.