broad

1 of 3

adjective

ˈbrȯd 

broader; broadest

1

a

: having ample extent from side to side or between limits

broad shoulders

… one of the broadest estuaries of any river in America.

—William Styron

b

: having a specified extension from side to side

made the path 10 feet broad

2

: extending far and wide : spacious

the broad plains

3

: relating to the main or essential points

broad outlines

4

a

: open, full

a crime committed in broad daylight

b

: plain, obvious

a broad hint

5

linguistics : dialectal especially in pronunciation

a broad northern accent

6

a

: liberal, tolerant

broad views

b

: widely applicable or applied : general

a broad rule

the broader sense of the word

c

: wide in range or amount

This store has a broader selection of items.

a politician with broad [=widespread] appeal

There is broad agreement [=many people agree] that these changes are needed.

7

of a vowel : open

—used specifically of a pronounced as in father

8

: marked by lack of restraint, delicacy, or subtlety:

a

: coarse, risqué

broad humor

b

obsolete : outspoken

… from broad words … Macduff lives in disgrace.

—Shakespeare

broadly adverb

He smiled broadly.

broadness noun

the broadness of the law's scope

broad

2 of 3

adverb

: in a broad (see broad entry 1 sense 4a) manner : fully

broad awake

broad

3 of 3

noun

1

slang, often offensive : woman

2

British : an expansion of a river

—often used in plural

Synonyms

Adjective

• fat
• thick
• wide

Choose the Right Synonym for broad

broad, wide, deep mean having horizontal extent.

broad and wide apply to a surface measured or viewed from side to side.

a broad avenue

wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned

rugs eight feet wide

or applied to unfilled space between limits.

a wide doorway

broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard

deep woods

Examples of broad in a Sentence

Adjective

The store has a broad selection of coats.

There was broad agreement on the new government.

There are three broad categories of industry in the region: computers, finance, and education.

the broad outlines of a problem

discusses “family” in its broadest sense

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Ives and Ward acknowledge that Cruise did bring GM access to technology that has helped improve safety features across its broader lineup and helped attract top software engineers to the automaker. —Jamie L. Lareau, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

This tragic incident has drawn attention to the broader issue of chronic pain, which affects millions of Americans and is often linked to significant mental and emotional distress. —Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

Lobbying from the dairy industry and medical community ended multiple attempts, between 2009 and 2024, to allow broad sales of raw milk to Wisconsin consumers. —Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024

There are three broad schools of thought that are most common in reaction to the soccer World Cup being won by Saudi Arabia. —Callum Booth, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English brood, from Old English brād; akin to Old High German breit broad

Adverb

Middle English broode, from Old English brāde, adverbial derivative of brād broad entry 1

Noun

Middle English brood, noun derivative of brood broad entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing broad

• a broad spectrum
• broad arrow
• broad-based
• broad bean
• broad-brush
• broad-gauge
• broad-gauged
• broad jump
• broad-leafed
• broad-leaved
• broad-minded
• broad-spectrum
• in broad daylight

Kids Definition

broad

adjective

ˈbrȯd

1

: not narrow : wide

a broad stripe

2

: extending far and wide : spacious

broad prairies

3

: full entry 1 sense 2c

broad daylight

4

: very clear : obvious

a broad hint

5

: not limited : large in range or amount

a broad choice of subjects

education in its broadest sense

6

: not covering the fine points : general

broad outlines of a problem

7

: pronounced like the a in father

broadly adverb

broadness noun

Geographical Definition

Broad

geographical name

ˈbrȯd 

1

river 220 miles (354 kilometers) long in North Carolina and South Carolina see saluda

2

river 70 miles (113 kilometers) long in southern South Carolina flowing into the Atlantic