across-the-board

adjective

ə-ˈkrȯs-ṯẖə-ˈbȯrd 

1

: placed to win if a competitor wins, places, or shows

an across-the-board racing bet

2

: embracing or affecting all classes or categories : blanket

an across-the-board price increase

Synonyms

• general
• overall
• generic
• universal
• common
• broad

Examples of across-the-board in a Sentence

an across-the-board reduction in the state's budget because of declining revenues

Recent Examples on the Web

However, if the trust fund is exhausted without action by Congress, then there would be across-the-board benefit cuts of 19 percent or more to bring benefits in line with ongoing contributions. —Dan Doonan, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Though some private New York employers already offer similar bereavement policies, there’s no across-the-board guarantee at the moment. —Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025

At that point, unless Congress acts, the system will only have enough payroll tax revenue coming in to pay about 77% of scheduled benefits—triggering an automatic across-the-board cut of around 23% for all recipients. —Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2025

In addition to pharma tariffs, Trump has threatened to impose across-the-board tariffs on semiconductors and lumber. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for across-the-board

• particleboard
• phonorecord
• underinsured
• abhorred
• aboard
• accord
• adored
• afford
• award
• baseboard
• billboard
• blackboard