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
5
linguistics
: dialectal especially in pronunciation
a broad northern accent
6
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
broadly
adverb
He smiled broadly.
broadness
noun
the broadness of the law's scope
: in a broad (see broad entry 1 sense 4a) manner : fully
broad awake
1
slang, often offensive
: woman
2
British
: an expansion of a river
—often used in plural
Synonyms
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
Pat Maio, Orange County Register, 16 Nov. 2024
The agency also has broad oversight of a swath of consumer goods, including cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods.
—Aleccia Washington, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2024
School district leaders pushed legislators to create the 1241 task force to consider broader changes to the system.
—Yesenia Robles, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024
President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is planning to get rid of the $7,500 tax credit for EV purchases as part of a broader tax shakeup, Reuters reports.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
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Adjective
The truck Sanchez is driving is one of hundreds of such next-generation vehicles that are part of a small but growing electric-truck ecosystem taking shape in California ahead of broader zero emission mandates.
—Dictionary Entries Near broad
Cite this Entry
“Broad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broad. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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