Meaning & use
ballast
Last updated
Heavy material carried in a ship, balloon, or vehicle to improve stability, or something that provides steadiness more generally.
See it in a sentence
The ship took on water ballast to stay steady in rough seas.
Her calm temperament acted as ballast for the whole team during the crisis.
A note on using this word
Frequently used figuratively to describe a person, habit, or quality that provides emotional or organizational steadiness.
Words with a similar meaning
stabilizercounterweight
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