Astride means sitting or standing with one leg on each side of something, the way you sit on a horse or a bicycle. When you climb astride a fence, you straddle it with one leg hanging down on either side.

The word comes from how riders sit on horses: positioned across the saddle with their legs spread apart for balance and control. A knight in armor would mount his warhorse and sit astride it, ready for battle or a tournament. Today, you might sit astride a motorcycle, a park bench, or even a tree branch.

People also use astride to describe being positioned across or spanning something. A town might sit astride a river, with neighborhoods on both banks. A bridge stands astride a canyon, connecting one side to the other.

The word suggests strength, confidence, and control. When someone sits astride a powerful horse, they look ready for action. It's different from sitting sideways (called sidesaddle, which was once considered proper for women wearing dresses) or just sitting normally in a chair. Astride always means that position of balanced strength, with your weight distributed evenly across whatever you're mounted on.