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

That's especially handy for connecting a RAID storage array, taking advantage of the higher bandwidth while still allowing for features like driving up to four external displays at up to 6K/60Hz or combinations including 8K/60Hz and 4K/240Hz. —Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026

The rise of artificial intelligence has driven a new way of packaging DRAM chips known as high-bandwidth memory, or HBM. —Ian King, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026

In each case, there were also long-term victors who inherited infrastructure and reaped the benefits of these expansions in the form of lower-cost bandwidth, cheaper consumer prices, and large manufacturers that consolidated the power grid. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026

These are made using a new dual-die 3-nm Fusion Architecture that promises high bandwidth and low latency. —New Atlas, 4 Mar. 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