stanza

noun

stan·​za ˈstan-zə How to pronounce stanza (audio)
1
: a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together in a usually recurring pattern of meter and rhyme : strophe
2
sports : a period (such as a half or an inning) into which the duration of a game is divided
The game's prime moment wasn't the decisive and popular eighth-inning, two-run homer by Mark Bellhorn … but a sensational play by Boston's Manny Ramirez in the top of that same stanza.Roger Angell
stanzaic adjective

Examples of stanza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The first stanza plunges into the picture, construing it both as a visual object and as the memento of a physical experience. A.o. Scott, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 Ribas 2 - Round 3 More kicks were thrown to open the third stanza, but that approach did not last long, as Ribas quickly adjusted to an aggressive forward-pressure boxing style. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025 That offence, combined with a tally from Adam Henrique, put the Oilers up 5-0 just past the 12-minute mark of the middle stanza. Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025 The crowd at Hal & Mal’s in Jackson, Mississippi, whoops with pleasure at the end of every stanza. Emma John, AFAR Media, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for stanza 

Word History

Etymology

Italian, stay, abode, room, stanza, from Vulgar Latin *stantia stay — more at stance

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stanza was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near stanza

Cite this Entry

“Stanza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stanza. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

stanza

noun
stan·​za ˈstan-zə How to pronounce stanza (audio)
: a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together in a usually repeating pattern of rhythm and rhyme
stanzaic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on stanza

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