Other forms: imbalances
An imbalance is a state where two sides are unequal. A hormonal imbalance, trade imbalance, power imbalance.
It names an unequal relation rather than a shortage, which is why it needs two things to compare. Power imbalance is the standard term for relationships where consent is complicated by authority. Note that the im- is the same negative prefix as in impossible, taking that form before b, m and p.
1nounimbalanceA state where two sides are unequal.
“There is an imbalance in the class, with far more boys than girls.”
imbalance is an inequality.
Middle English
balaunce
English
balance
English, today
imbalance
Built from
From in- + balance. balance comes from Middle English balaunce. From Middle English balaunce, from Old French balance, from Latin bilancia, from (accusative form of) Latin bilanx (“two-scaled”), from bi- + lanx (“plate, scale”). Displaced the word — wǣġ akin to Modern English: wey from Proto-West Germanic wāgu (“scales; weight”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA