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

Operational decisions get kicked up to VPs who don’t have the bandwidth to make them thoughtfully. —Kristien Turner, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026

Analysts say the groups are secretly cooperating with Iran’s government despite public claims of independence, using sophisticated bandwidth to spread content across restricted networks. —Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

Samsung's gains came as the company also forecast an eightfold jump in first-quarter profit on Tuesday, driven by surging AI demand for its high-bandwidth memory chips used in data centers and servers. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026

Video from GoPro cameras outside the capsule streamed down in low-resolution format, due to limitations on bandwidth coming back from deep space, but the Artemis II astronauts were expected to downlink sharper telephoto snapshots overnight Monday into Tuesday morning. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2026

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