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

To increase network bandwidth, Musk decided to place his satellites in low Earth orbit, around 400 miles up. —Ben Tarnoff, Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026

Starmer has also pushed Europe’s involvement in Ukraine, and domestic distractions may limit his diplomatic and political bandwidth on the issue. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 21 Apr. 2026

Meanwhile, SpaceX has been laying the groundwork for huge upgrades to Starlink Mobile, which is currently available from T-Mobile, but with limited bandwidth. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026

Operational decisions get kicked up to VPs who don’t have the bandwidth to make them thoughtfully. —Kristien Turner, Fortune, 12 Apr. 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