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 ultra-fast transmission was enabled by a deterministic network channel that guarantees dedicated bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and near-zero packet loss. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025

As a working mom, my ambition didn't shrink, my bandwidth did. —Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025

The company has cemented its lead in high-bandwidth memory chips, which are used in Nvidia’s AI processors. —Dylan Butts, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025

Micron posted record sales in its latest quarter because of the growth of AI data centers, which need high-bandwidth memory chips, also called HBM, a type of DRAM, and those chips are pricer than consumer memory. —Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 5 Dec. 2025

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