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

From software to computing power to network bandwidth, the entire technology stack is being redesigned around flexible, scalable consumption. —Vincentas Grinius, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Managing three awards campaigns of this scale will test the studio’s bandwidth. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Sep. 2025

But that required more ad bandwidth and more money, so many companies saw the guidelines as a de facto barrier. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 10 Sep. 2025

Bluetooth, Spotify said, doesn’t provide enough bandwidth for lossless. —Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 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