balance of power


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balance of power

n.
Distribution of power in which no single nation is able to dominate or interfere with others.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

balance of power

n
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the distribution of power among countries so that no one nation can seriously threaten the fundamental interests of another
2. any similar distribution of power or influence
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

bal′ance of pow′er


n.
a distribution of forces among nations or groups such that no single one is strong enough to assert its will or dominate the others.
[1570–80]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.balance of power - an equilibrium of power between nationsbalance of power - an equilibrium of power between nations
equilibrium - a stable situation in which forces cancel one another
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in classic literature ?
Pierre had managed to start a conversation with the abbe about the balance of power, and the latter, evidently interested by the young man's simple-minded eagerness, was explaining his pet theory.
the balance of power in Europe and the rights of the people," the abbe was saying.
let both sides join in creating not a new balance of power. .
It had started its first newspaper in Japan, and elected its first deputy in Argentina; in France it named members of cabinets, and in Italy and Australia it held the balance of power and turned out ministries.
John knew what was at the back of it, and to hear him engaged with her husband in argument about finance and the balance of power, gave her an odd sense of stability.
"Resolved: that the maintenance inviolate of the rights of the States, and especially the right of each State to order and control its own domestic institutions according to its own judgment exclusively, is essential to that balance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depend, and we denounce the lawless invasion by armed force of the soil of any State or Territory, no matter under what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes."
The mixed constitution will be stable if it represents the actual balance of power between different classes in the state.
I think we were all more or less shaken by the frightfulness of the tragedy--until Olson remarked that the balance of power now rested where it belonged.
'As I said in my tweet, I am not praying for World War III, but at least a strong presence of the US Pacific fleet in the WPS can make China feel the balance of power in that area,' Lacson stressed.
The election of three newcomers to the Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41 school board has reversed the balance of power on the panel.
Once constructed, the warship 'will be one of the largest and most technologically advanced platforms of Pakistan Navy and strengthen the country's capability to respond to future challenges, maintain peace and stability and the balance of power in the Indian Ocean region,' the report said.
Strong defense capability of the country is warranty of peace in the region and keeps the balance of power in the volatile region of South Asia, he added.

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