imbalance
gb/ɪmbˈæləns/ us/ɪmbˈæləns/
B2
English
~ 7500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
state
1
lack of equality or proportion
A situation where two or more things are not equal in size, number, or power.
Usage pattern:
an imbalance in [something] between [group] and [group]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *“disbalance”* instead of *“imbalance”*; *“disbalance”* is not standard in modern English. Many also confuse the noun *“imbalance”* with the adjective *“unbalanced”* (e.g. saying *“an unbalance in power”* instead of *“an imbalance of power”*). Common patterns are *“an imbalance in/of [something]”* and *“an imbalance between [group] and [group]”*.
Synonyms
inequality (Often used for unfair differences in money, power, or opportunity; slightly broader and more common in social and political discussions.)
|
disparity (Stresses a clear, often surprising difference between groups; slightly more formal.)
|
disproportion (Focuses on parts not being in the right ratio to each other; often used in more formal or written English.)
Antonyms
balance (General opposite, where parts are in the right amount or relation.)
|
equality (Opposite when talking about people or groups having the same rights, chances, or amounts.)
|
parity (Formal opposite, meaning an equal or fair state, especially between groups.)
Collocations
gender imbalance
|trade imbalance
|power imbalance
|income imbalance
|address the imbalance
|redress the imbalance
Themes
society
|economics
|politics
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The report highlights a serious gender imbalance in the tech industry.
- A growing trade imbalance has raised concerns among economists.
- There is a clear power imbalance between employers and interns.
- New policies aim to correct the imbalance between rich and poor regions.
- This funding imbalance threatens the future of rural schools.
Learner examples
- There is a big gender imbalance in this company.
- The trade imbalance between the two countries is getting worse.
- We must fix the power imbalance in this relationship.
- The government is trying to reduce the income imbalance in the city.
- This law was made to address the imbalance between large and small businesses.
Noun
B2
state
2
state of not being physically steady
A state where a body or object is not steady and may fall or move in a wrong way.
Usage pattern:
an imbalance in [body part/object] causes [problem]
Common mistake:
Learners may use *“no balance”* instead of *“imbalance”* (e.g. *“He has imbalance when he walks”* is better than *“He has no balance when he walks”* in medical descriptions). Also note that *“imbalance”* is a noun; for verbs you would say *“lose your balance”* or *“make something unbalanced,”* not *“imbalance something.”*
Synonyms
unsteadiness (Focuses on the feeling or state of not being steady when standing or moving.)
|
instability (More general word for something that is not firm or steady; can be physical or abstract, but here used physically.)
Antonyms
balance (The normal, healthy ability to stay steady when standing or moving.)
|
stability (Emphasizes being firm and not likely to move, shake, or fall.)
Collocations
inner ear imbalance
|muscle imbalance
|postural imbalance
|cause an imbalance
|correct an imbalance
Themes
health
|sports
|body
Examples
- An inner ear imbalance can make you feel dizzy and off-balance.
- A muscle imbalance in your legs can increase the risk of injury.
- The mechanic said a tire imbalance was causing the vibration in the steering wheel.
- Poor posture can create an imbalance in the spine over time.
Learner examples
- An ear imbalance can make you feel very dizzy.
- A muscle imbalance in your back can cause pain.
- The table has an imbalance and shakes when we eat.
- Wearing very heavy bags on one side can cause an imbalance in your shoulders.
Noun
technical
C1
state
3
abnormal levels of chemicals or hormones
A situation where the level of chemicals or hormones in the body is not normal or healthy.
Usage pattern:
an imbalance of [substance] in the body
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *“unbalanced hormones”* when medical English more often uses *“a hormonal imbalance.”* Also, *“chemical imbalance”* usually refers to body or brain chemistry, not to everyday household chemicals.
Synonyms
dysregulation (Technical term used especially in medicine and biology for systems that are not properly controlled.)
|
disorder (Broad medical term; less precise about levels but often used for conditions caused by such imbalances.)
Antonyms
homeostasis (Technical opposite; refers to the stable, balanced internal state of a living body.)
|
equilibrium (Used in scientific contexts for a balanced state of forces or substances.)
Collocations
chemical imbalance
|hormonal imbalance
|electrolyte imbalance
|thyroid imbalance
|correct the imbalance
|treat the imbalance
Themes
health
|science
|body
Examples
- Doctors believe her symptoms are caused by a hormonal imbalance.
- Some forms of depression are linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain.
- Dehydration can lead to a dangerous electrolyte imbalance.
- Medication may help correct the imbalance of thyroid hormones.
Learner examples
- The doctor said she has a hormonal imbalance.
- A chemical imbalance in the brain can affect mood.
- An electrolyte imbalance can be very serious.
- This medicine helps to fix the imbalance of hormones in his body.
Grammar
Dictionary form
imbalance
IPA
GB/ɪmbˈæləns/
US/ɪmbˈæləns/
Syllables & stress
im - bal - ance (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (bal)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: imbalance
- Plural: imbalance, imbalances
Word family
Expressions
address the imbalance
1/ədɹˈɛs ðə ɪmbˈæləns/
fixed phrase
deal with an unequal situation
To try to deal with or solve a problem where things are not equal or fair.
Examples
- The organization was created to address the imbalance in education between urban and rural areas.
- More investment is needed to address the imbalance in healthcare services.
chemical imbalance
1/kˈɛmɪkəl ɪmbˈæləns/
fixed phrase
abnormal body or brain chemistry
A state where the level of chemicals in the body or brain is not normal or healthy.
Examples
- Some mental illnesses are associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain.
- The doctor explained that a chemical imbalance might be causing his mood swings.
correct the imbalance
1/kɚˈɛkt ðə ɪmbˈæləns/
fixed phrase
fix an unequal situation
To change something so that two or more sides become more equal again.
Examples
- They hired more women to correct the imbalance on the board.
- The treatment aims to correct the imbalance of chemicals in the patient’s blood.
ecological imbalance
1/ɪkəlˈɑd͡ʒɪkəl ɪmbˈæləns/
fixed phrase
technical
disturbed balance in an ecosystem
A problem in nature where plants, animals, and the environment are no longer in a healthy balance.
Examples
- Overfishing has created a serious ecological imbalance in the region.
- Pollution can lead to ecological imbalance and loss of biodiversity.
gender imbalance
1/d͡ʒˈɛndɚ ɪmbˈæləns/
fixed phrase
unequal numbers or roles of genders
A situation where there are many more men than women, or more women than men, in a group or area, or where one gender has more power.
Examples
- There is a clear gender imbalance in senior management positions.
- The university is working to reduce the gender imbalance in engineering programs.
hormonal imbalance
1/hˈɔɹmˌoʊnəl ɪmbˈæləns/
fixed phrase
abnormal hormone levels in body
A state where the body makes too much or too little of certain hormones.
Examples
- Acne can sometimes be linked to a hormonal imbalance.
- She visited an endocrinologist to find out whether a hormonal imbalance was causing her fatigue.
hormonal imbalance
1/hˈɔɹmˌoʊnəl ɪmbˈæləns/
fixed phrase
uneven hormone levels
a problem with the amount of hormones in the body
Examples
- A hormonal imbalance can cause tiredness, weight changes, or irregular periods.
- Blood tests may help show whether she has a hormonal imbalance.
- Not every mood change is caused by a hormonal imbalance.
power imbalance
1/pˈaʊɚ ɪmbˈæləns/
fixed phrase
unequal distribution of power
A situation where one person or group has a lot more control or power than another person or group.
Examples
- A power imbalance between teacher and student can make it hard to report abuse.
- The contract was criticized because of the power imbalance between the company and its workers.
redress the imbalance
1/ɹidɹˈɛs ðə ɪmbˈæləns/
fixed phrase
formal
take action to correct inequality
To do something to make an unfair or unequal situation more fair or equal.
Examples
- The new law is intended to redress the imbalance between landlords and tenants.
- Scholarships have been introduced to redress the imbalance in access to higher education.
trade imbalance
1/tɹˈeɪd ɪmbˈæləns/
fixed phrase
unequal imports and exports
A situation where a country buys much more from other countries than it sells to them, or the opposite.
Examples
- The trade imbalance with China has become a major political issue.
- A large trade imbalance can put pressure on a country’s currency.