Kilter means proper balance, alignment, or working order. When something is off kilter, it's not quite right: it might be tilted, unbalanced, or not functioning the way it should.

You'll almost always see this word in the phrase off kilter or out of kilter. A picture frame hanging crooked on the wall is off kilter. A wobbly table with one short leg is out of kilter. Your whole day might feel off kilter if you wake up late and everything seems slightly wrong from that point on.

The word works for physical things (a machine running out of kilter makes strange noises and doesn't work smoothly) and for situations or feelings (after staying up too late, you might feel off kilter the next day, like your brain isn't quite working right).

When something is in kilter, it's balanced and working as it should, though people rarely use this positive form. We mostly notice kilter when it's missing, like noticing your bike needs adjustment only when the wheel starts wobbling.