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

True leadership authority requires setting clear boundaries around your time, your energy, and your bandwidth. —Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Brands without the bandwidth to get retail distribution achieved direct-to-consumer sales opportunities thanks to social media. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026

Brands without the bandwidth to get retail distribution achieved direct-to-conversion sales opportunities thanks to social media. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026

The new board has a larger, newer FPGA [field-programmable gate array], has double the DDR3 memory bandwidth, and a power supply that delivers higher currents for the more power-hungry screen. —IEEE Spectrum, 18 June 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