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

Read the full Sagittarius Daily Horoscope Capricorn (December 21 - January 19) Overestimating your bandwidth? —USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025

The service—which allows users to set their location to more than 160 locations in 90 countries with unlimited bandwidth—offers a 30-day-money-back guarantee. —Monica Mercuri, StyleCaster, 1 Mar. 2025

Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has earned Trump's trust as an adept negotiator given his breakthrough on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza but he has also been tapped to play a role in putting an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, potentially limiting his bandwidth. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025

Human agents can reply almost instantly and have the bandwidth to give undivided attention to more customers. —Aytekin Tank, Forbes, 25 Feb. 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