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

The Pisces Moon in your 10th House of Career opposes Venus in your 4th House of Home, so work pressure could bump against family, rest, or emotional bandwidth. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026

The General Post Office's (GPO) system of wires and cables simply could not keep up with the ever-increasing demand for more bandwidth to accommodate not only phone traffic but the expanding television networks. — David Szondy august 01, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026

At one point, protecting my own mental bandwidth meant creating clean transitions at night. — Kristin Vance Richards, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

The analyst explained that his bullish outlook on Broadcom is based on the company's solid advantage in high-bandwidth memory supply, chip packaging capabilities, and large-scale production. — Tipranks.com, CNBC, 26 July 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