bandwidth

noun

band·​width ˈband-ˌwidth 

-ˌwitth

1

: a range within a band of wavelengths, frequencies, or energies

especially : a range of radio frequencies which is occupied by a modulated carrier wave, which is assigned to a service, or over which a device can operate

2

: the capacity for data transfer of an electronic communications system

Graphics consume more bandwidth than text does.

especially : the maximum data transfer rate of such a system

a bandwidth of 100 megabits per second

3

: the emotional or mental capacity necessary to do or consider something

I don't have the bandwidth to do it all myself, and I feel like a failure because I'm not living up to my own ideals.

—Frances Lefkowitz

Examples of bandwidth in a Sentence

The modem has a bandwidth of 56 kilobits per second.

Graphics use more bandwidth than text does.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jeanty, the nation’s top rusher last season, likely will be a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft later this month, and the Heisman Trophy runner-up took up a lot of bandwidth for defenses, taking pressure off Madsen. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2025

But even at its worst, this is several times the amount of bandwidth available to whatever UHS-I microSD card is inserted into your current Switch. —ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025

This might include temporarily reducing discretionary business expenses, identifying quick revenue opportunities that require minimal emotional bandwidth, or establishing clear thresholds for when more significant measures would be necessary. —Megan Bruneau, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

After the dot-com bust, dreams of internet bandwidth tripling every few months quickly unraveled, exposing massive overinvestment in fiber. —Dan Runkevicius, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bandwidth

noun

band·​width ˈband-ˌwidth 

1

: a range of frequencies

2

: the capacity for or rate of data transfer

a high bandwidth Internet connection