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# unbalanced

adjective (unbalanced)

«unbalanced» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Unbalanced means not steady, likely to tip or fall because the weight is not spread evenly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/#m1)
2. An unbalanced diet or report has too much of some things and not enough of others; it is not fair or even. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/#m2)
3. (old, unkind) Unbalanced can describe a person who is mentally unwell — avoid this use. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/#m3)
4. (maths, science) An unbalanced equation or set of forces is not equal on both sides. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/#m4)

### In the lessons

In science lessons, unbalanced forces make things start moving, speed up or change direction; balanced forces keep them steady. In maths, the two sides of an equation must balance. In health lessons, an unbalanced diet is not healthy. Phrases: unbalanced forces, an unbalanced diet, unbalanced teams.

### Examples

- The tower was unbalanced and fell over. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/#x1)
- Eating only chips is an unbalanced diet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/#x2)
- The teams are unbalanced: one has 8 players and the other 5. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/#x3)
- Unbalanced forces make the ball move. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/#x4)
- The scale is unbalanced because one side is heavier. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/#x5)
- If one side of an equation is 10 and the other is 12, it is unbalanced. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/#x6)

### Note

«Un-» + «balanced». Opposite: balanced. Using «unbalanced» about a person's mind is old and can be hurtful; say «unwell» instead. In maths, to fix unbalanced teams, move players: 8 and 5 → 13 ÷ 2 is not whole, so they can't be exactly equal.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «unbalanced» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unbalanced/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«unbalanced» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unbalanced.html) on Mova free.