widespread
adjective
wide·spread
ˈwīd-ˈspred 
1
: widely diffused or prevalent
widespread public interest
2
: widely extended or spread out
low, widespread hood and fenders—
Time
Timea widespread erosion surface—C. B. Hitchcock
C. B. HitchcockExamples of widespread in a Sentence
There is widespread public interest in the election.
Trade partners had become more widespread.
There was widespread opposition to the plan.
Recent Examples on the Web
Those concerns are coupled with anxieties over Paramount’s plans for widespread layoffs later this year.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Albania has been on a mission to root out corruption for the past decade, embarking on a widespread vetting process of every judge in the country, and creating specialized anti-corruption bodies to prosecute graft, to improve its chance of acceding to the European Union.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
But given the time of year, just past the recent autumn equinox, even a small bump in activity could have a bigger impact and boost the chances of more widespread auroras this weekend.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Despite legalization in dozens of states and widespread public support, cannabis brands remain locked out of most major advertising channels due to federal prohibition.
—Cynthia Salarizadeh, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for widespread
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Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Albania has been on a mission to root out corruption for the past decade, embarking on a widespread vetting process of every judge in the country, and creating specialized anti-corruption bodies to prosecute graft, to improve its chance of acceding to the European Union.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
But given the time of year, just past the recent autumn equinox, even a small bump in activity could have a bigger impact and boost the chances of more widespread auroras this weekend.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Despite legalization in dozens of states and widespread public support, cannabis brands remain locked out of most major advertising channels due to federal prohibition.
—Cynthia Salarizadeh, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for widespread
Cite this Entry
“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widespread. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
widespread
adjective
wide·spread
ˈwīd-ˈspred
1
: scattered or found over a wide area
widespread interest in the election
2
: spread out over a wide area
widespread wings
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