Balance vs. Equilibrium: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 20, 2023
"Balance" refers to an even distribution of weight or elements, often requiring active maintenance, while "Equilibrium" refers to a state of stability where opposing forces are balanced, often self-sustaining.
Key Differences
"Balance" is a term that denotes an equal distribution or proportion of elements, whether it's in physical weight, emotional state, or various other contexts. "Equilibrium," on the other hand, implies a state of stability, often in systems, where all the variables are in balance.
Grammatically, both "Balance" and "Equilibrium" function as nouns, but "Balance" can also be used as a verb meaning to bring or keep elements in harmony. In contrast, "Equilibrium" is predominantly a noun, not commonly used as a verb.
"Balance" often requires active effort to maintain, as in balancing on a tightrope. "Equilibrium," however, generally refers to a self-sustaining state where no external effort is needed to maintain balance, such as in chemical reactions.
"Balance" is a term commonly used in everyday language, applicable to various contexts including finance, emotion, and physicality. "Equilibrium" is more often employed in scientific or technical settings, to describe systems in a state of stability.
Both "Balance" and "Equilibrium" signify a state of harmony or stability, but their usage varies in complexity. "Balance" is simpler and more versatile, while "Equilibrium" often involves a more complex set of variables or components.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Application
Various contexts
Mostly scientific
Grammatical Role
Noun, Verb
Mainly Noun
Maintenance
Often requires active effort
Usually self-sustaining
Common Contexts
Daily life, finance, emotion
Scientific, systems
Complexity
Simpler and more versatile
More complex
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Balance and Equilibrium Definitions
Balance
See Libra.
Equilibrium
Emotional stability
She finally found emotional equilibrium.
Balance
A weighing device, especially one consisting of a rigid beam horizontally suspended by a low-friction support at its center, with identical weighing pans hung at either end, one of which holds an unknown weight while the effective weight in the other is increased by known amounts until the beam is level and motionless. Also called scale.
Equilibrium
Physical stability
The bridge was in perfect equilibrium.
Balance
A state of equilibrium or parity characterized by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces.
Equilibrium
Economic state
The market was in equilibrium.
Balance
The power or means to decide
Matters that fell outside the judge's balance.
Equilibrium
Biological homeostasis
The body maintains a delicate equilibrium.
Balance
A state of bodily equilibrium
Thrown off balance by a gust of wind.
Equilibrium
A condition in which all acting influences are canceled by others, resulting in a stable, balanced, or unchanging system.
Balance
The ability to maintain bodily equilibrium
Gymnasts must have good balance.
Equilibrium
Mental or emotional balance.
Balance
A harmonious or satisfying arrangement or proportion of parts or elements, as in a design.
Equilibrium
(Physics) The state of a body or physical system at rest or in unaccelerated motion in which the resultant of all forces acting on it is zero and the sum of all torques about any axis is zero.
Balance
An influence or force tending to produce equilibrium; counterpoise.
Equilibrium
The state of a chemical reaction in which its forward and reverse reactions occur at equal rates so that the concentration of the reactants and products does not change with time.
Balance
The difference in magnitude between opposing forces or influences.
Equilibrium
The state of a system in which more than one phase exists and exchange between phases occurs at equal rates so that there is no net change in the composition of the system.
Balance
Equality of totals in the debit and credit sides of an account.
Equilibrium
The condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced, resulting in no net change.
Balance
The difference between such totals, either on the credit or the debit side.
Equilibrium
Mental balance.
Balance
Something that is left over; a remainder.
Equilibrium
(chemistry) The state of a reaction in which the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are the same.
Balance
(Chemistry) Equality of mass and net electric charge of reacting species on each side of an equation.
Equilibrium
(physics) The state of a body at rest or in uniform motion in which the resultant of all forces on it is zero.
Balance
(Mathematics) Equality with respect to the net number of reduced symbolic quantities on each side of an equation.
Equilibrium
Equality of weight or force; an equipoise or a state of rest produced by the mutual counteraction of two or more forces.
Balance
A balance wheel.
Equilibrium
A level position; a just poise or balance in respect to an object, so that it remains firm; equipoise; as, to preserve the equilibrium of the body.
Health consists in the equilibrium between those two powers.
Balance
To determine the weight of (something) in a weighing device.
Equilibrium
A balancing of the mind between motives or reasons, with consequent indecision and doubt.
Balance
To consider and compare or assess
Balanced the pros and cons before making a choice.
Equilibrium
A chemical reaction and its reverse proceed at equal rates
Balance
To bring into or maintain in a state of equilibrium.
Equilibrium
A stable situation in which forces cancel one another
Balance
To act as an equalizing weight or force to; counterbalance.
Equilibrium
Equality of distribution
Balance
To compute the difference between the debits and credits of (an account).
Equilibrium
A sensory system located in structures of the inner ear that registers the orientation of the head
Balance
To reconcile or equalize the sums of the debits and credits of (an account).
Equilibrium
Chemical state
The reaction reached equilibrium.
Balance
To settle (an account, for example) by paying what is owed.
Balance
To bring into or keep in equal or satisfying proportion or harmony.
Balance
Mathematics & Chemistry To bring (an equation) into balance.
Balance
To move toward and then away from (a dance partner).
Balance
To be in or come into equilibrium.
Balance
To be equal or equivalent.
Balance
To sway or waver as if losing or regaining equilibrium.
Balance
To move toward and then away from a dance partner.
Balance
(uncountable) A state in which opposing forces harmonise; equilibrium.
Balance
(uncountable) Mental equilibrium; mental health; calmness, a state of remaining clear-headed and unperturbed.
Balance
Something of equal weight used to provide equilibrium; counterweight.
These weights are used as a balance for the overhanging verandah
Blair thought he could provide a useful balance to Bush's policies.
Balance
A pair of scales.
Balance
(uncountable) Awareness of both viewpoints or matters; neutrality; rationality; objectivity.
Balance
(uncountable) The overall result of conflicting forces, opinions etc.; the influence which ultimately "weighs" more than others.
The balance of power finally lay with the Royalist forces.
I think the balance of opinion is that we should get out while we're ahead.
Balance
(uncountable) Apparent harmony in art (between differing colours, sounds, etc.).
Balance
(accounting) A list accounting for the debits on one side, and for the credits on the other.
Balance
(accounting) The result of such a procedure; the difference between credit and debit of an account.
I just need to nip to a bank and check my balance.
Balance
(watchmaking) A device used to regulate the speed of a watch, clock etc.
Balance
The remainder.
The balance of the agreement remains in effect.
The invoice said he had only paid $50. The balance was $220.
Balance
Libra.
Balance
(transitive) To bring (items) to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights.
Balance
To make (concepts) agree.
Balance
(transitive) To hold (an object or objects) precariously; to support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling.
I balanced my mug of coffee on my knee.
The circus performer balances a plate on the end of a baton.
Balance
(transitive) To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
Balance
To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally.
To balance partners
Balance
(nautical) To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass.
To balance the boom mainsail
Balance
(transitive) To make the credits and debits of (an account) correspond.
This final payment, or credit, balances the account.
To balance a set of books
Balance
(intransitive) To be in equilibrium.
Balance
(intransitive) To have matching credits and debits.
Balance
To weigh in a balance.
Balance
To hesitate or fluctuate.
Balance
An apparatus for weighing.
Balance
Act of weighing mentally; comparison; estimate.
A fair balance of the advantages on either side.
Balance
Equipoise between the weights in opposite scales.
Balance
The state of being in equipoise; equilibrium; even adjustment; steadiness.
And hung a bottle on each sideTo make his balance true.
The order and balance of the country were destroyed.
English workmen completely lose their balance.
Balance
An equality between the sums total of the two sides of an account; as, to bring one's accounts to a balance; - also, the excess on either side; as, the balance of an account.
I still think the balance of probabilities leans towards the account given in the text.
Balance
A balance wheel, as of a watch, or clock. See Balance wheel (in the Vocabulary).
Balance
The constellation Libra.
Balance
To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting the weights; to weigh in a balance.
Balance
To support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling; as, to balance a plate on the end of a cane; to balance one's self on a tight rope.
Balance
To equal in number, weight, force, or proportion; to counterpoise, counterbalance, counteract, or neutralize.
One expression . . . must check and balance another.
Balance
To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to estimate.
Balance the good and evil of things.
Balance
To settle and adjust, as an account; to make two accounts equal by paying the difference between them.
I am very well satisfied that it is not in my power to balance accounts with my Maker.
Balance
To make the sums of the debits and credits of an account equal; - said of an item; as, this payment, or credit, balances the account.
Balance
To arrange accounts in such a way that the sum total of the debits is equal to the sum total of the credits; as, to balance a set of books.
Balance
To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; as, to balance partners.
Balance
To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance the boom mainsail.
Balance
To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the scales balance.
Balance
To fluctuate between motives which appear of equal force; to waver; to hesitate.
He would not balance or err in the determination of his choice.
Balance
To move toward a person or couple, and then back.
Balance
A state of equilibrium
Balance
A scale for weighing; depends on pull of gravity
Balance
Equality between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account
Balance
Harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design);
In all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the opposition of one part to another and a reciprocal balance
Balance
Equality of distribution
Balance
Something left after other parts have been taken away;
There was no remainder
He threw away the rest
He took what he wanted and I got the balance
Balance
The difference between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account
Balance
(astrology) a person who is born while the sun in in Libra
Balance
The seventh sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about September 23 to October 22
Balance
(mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact correspondence of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane
Balance
An equivalent counterbalancing weight
Balance
A wheel that regulates the rate of movement in a machine; especially a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of a timepiece to regulate its beat
Balance
Bring into balance or equilibrium;
She has to balance work and her domestic duties
Balance the two weights
Balance
Compute credits and debits of an account
Balance
Hold or carry in equilibrium
Balance
Be in equilibrium;
He was balancing on one foot
Balance
Equal distribution
The balance of the load kept the boat afloat.
Balance
Financial stability
Her bank balance was impressive.
Balance
Emotional stability
He struggled to find balance in life.
Balance
Physical stability
She showed great balance on the beam.
Balance
Harmony of elements
The room had a good balance of colors.
FAQs
Is "Equilibrium" a noun or a verb?
It's mainly a noun.
What is "Equilibrium"?
It refers to a stable state where opposing elements are balanced.
Is "Balance" a noun or a verb?
It's both a noun and a verb.
Does "Equilibrium" require active maintenance?
Usually, no.
What is "Balance"?
It refers to an even distribution of elements in various contexts.
Is "Equilibrium" commonly used in daily life?
It's mostly used in scientific or technical contexts.
Does "Balance" require active maintenance?
Often, yes.
Is "Balance" commonly used in scientific contexts?
It's used in both scientific and everyday contexts.
Is "Balance" a simpler term?
Generally, yes.
Is "Equilibrium" a more complex term?
Generally, yes.
Can "Balance" be used in financial contexts?
Yes, it can.
Can "Balance" refer to emotional stability?
Yes, it can.
Can "Equilibrium" refer to emotional stability?
Yes, but it's less common.
Are "Balance" and "Equilibrium" synonyms?
They are similar but not exact synonyms.
Can "Equilibrium" be used in economic contexts?
Yes, it's often used to describe market states.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
