1. heavy materials used to provide stability to a ship or other vessel
Usage: nautical
2. heavy material used to provide stability or weight to something
3. electrical devices that regulate current in fluorescent lights
Usage: technical

1. provides stability or weight to something

Examples

• The ship’s ballasts kept it stable during the storm.
• Workers loaded concrete ballasts into the foundation.
• The fluorescent lights wouldn’t work without proper ballasts.
• Sand ballasts the hot air balloon basket.
• Heavy stones serve as ballasts for the tent.
• The crane ballasts itself with counterweights.
• Railroad tracks use gravel ballasts for support.