English Meaning & Definitions
A system in which the different parts of an organization or government have powers that affect and control the other parts so that no single part can become too powerful.
- “The constitution was designed with a system of checks and balances to ensure that no single branch of government gains absolute control.”
- “Effective corporate governance requires internal checks and balances to prevent fraud and mismanagement.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “checks and balances”.
The term originated in the 18th century, primarily associated with the political philosophy of Baron de Montesquieu. 'Check' in this context refers to the power to stop or restrain an action (derived from the game of chess, where a king is 'checked'), while 'balance' refers to the equilibrium of power distributed among different branches of government to prevent tyranny.
Think of a scale: one side 'checks' (stops) the other, while the 'balance' keeps the whole system level and fair.
Frequently Asked Questions About “checks and balances”
1. What is the meaning of “checks and balances” in English?
In English, checks and balances (noun) is defined as: “A system in which the different parts of an organization or government have powers that affect and control the other parts so that no single part can become too powerful.”.
2. How do you use “checks and balances” in a sentence?
“The constitution was designed with a system of checks and balances to ensure that no single branch of government gains absolute control.”
3. What are English synonyms of “checks and balances”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “checks and balances”?
The term originated in the 18th century, primarily associated with the political philosophy of Baron de Montesquieu. 'Check' in this context refers to the power to stop or restrain an action (derived from the game of chess, where a king is 'checked'), while 'balance' refers to the equilibrium of power distributed among different branches of government to prevent tyranny.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.