widespread

adjective

wide·​spread ˈwīd-ˈspred How to pronounce widespread (audio)
1
: widely diffused or prevalent
widespread public interest
2
: widely extended or spread out
low, widespread hood and fendersTime
a widespread erosion surfaceC. B. Hitchcock

Examples 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At the end of the Triassic, the crocodile-like phytosaurs entirely disappeared, as did many forms of crocodile relatives that were diverse and widespread in the Triassic. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025 Barron Trump, the youngest son of President Donald Trump, has sparked widespread speculation about his political future from members of the MAGA movement following his appearance at his father's second inauguration on Monday. Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025 Vaccinating dairy cattle could prevent some human cases of H5N1 but not all of them, since the virus is so widespread in birds and poultry. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 22 Jan. 2025 The lack of effort has been so widespread, it’s turned into a collective punch line among my group of friends. Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for widespread 

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of widespread was in 1582

Dictionary Entries Near widespread

Cite this Entry

“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widespread. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

widespread

adjective
wide·​spread ˈwīd-ˈspred How to pronounce widespread (audio)
1
: scattered or found over a wide area
widespread interest in the election
2
: spread out over a wide area
widespread wings

More from Merriam-Webster on widespread

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