What does balcony mean?
A balcony is an elevated platform that projects from the exterior wall of a building, usually accessible from an upstairs room and protected by a railing or balustrade. Balconies serve both practical and decorative purposes: they extend living space into the open air, offer views of the surroundings, and often add architectural character to a facade. The word also has a second established sense, referring to an upper tier of seats in a theatre, cinema, or other auditorium. Derived from Italian 'balcone', ultimately related to Germanic roots concerning beams or scaffolding, the term entered English in the seventeenth century and is standard in both British and American usage. Balconies carry broadly pleasant connotations, evoking fresh air, vantage points, and leisurely moments — from Juliet's famous perch in Shakespeare's play to the modest apartment ledge where city dwellers catch a breeze. A related adjective, 'balconied', describes buildings adorned with balconies.
nounA platform projecting from the wall of a building, enclosed by a railing or balustrade, accessible from an upper floor. Also, in a theatre or auditorium, an upper tier of seats.
- An elevated platform projecting from the wall of a building, enclosed by a railing or balustrade.
- An upper tier of seating in a theatre, cinema, or auditorium.
"She stepped onto the balcony to watch the sunrise over the rooftops."
"From her small iron-railed balcony she could see the whole piazza below."
"We had to climb to the balcony to find our seats for the evening performance."
Standard plural, formed by changing '-y' to '-ies'. Used when referring to multiple such platforms or seating tiers.
"The apartment block's south-facing balconies caught the afternoon sun."
The word 'balcony' comes from Italian 'balcone', meaning 'large window' — so technically every balcony began as just a very big window with delusions of grandeur.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of balcony
'Balcony' derives from Italian 'balcone', meaning a large window or scaffold beam, which itself traces back through Old Italian to Germanic roots relating to wooden beams or balks. The word entered English in the early seventeenth century, initially retaining architectural senses tied to projecting platforms on Italianate buildings before broadening into everyday use. Its cognates include 'baluster', the small column or post used in balustrades, which shares the same Italian lineage.
Related word forms
How balcony is actually used
'Balcony' is neutral in register and common across both British and American English. In architecture, the term covers everything from modest apartment ledges to grand projecting platforms; in theatrical contexts it refers to elevated seating tiers. The adjective 'balconied' describes buildings fitted with balconies.
Easily confused with balcony
A veranda is a roofed open gallery running along the outside of a building at ground level, while a balcony projects from an upper floor and is typically not roofed.
A terrace is a flat open area, often at ground level or on a roof, while a balcony is specifically an elevated platform attached to the wall of a building.