Ballasted

/ˈbæl.ə.stɪd/ adjective

Definition

Loaded with ballast; steadied or stabilized (literally with ballast material or figuratively); having proper weight or stability.

Etymology

From 'ballast' plus the past participle suffix '-ed.' Originally a nautical term meaning physically weighted down with ballast, it expanded metaphorically to mean 'emotionally stable' or 'grounded.'

Kelly Says

A 'ballasted' person is emotionally anchored, a metaphor drawn directly from ships—we unconsciously describe psychological stability using nautical language because sailors understood something profound about weight, balance, and staying level.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.