widespread
adjective
wide·spread
ˈwīd-ˈspred 
1
: widely diffused or prevalent
widespread public interest
2
: widely extended or spread out
… low, widespread hood and fenders …—
Time
Timea widespread erosion surface—C. B. Hitchcock
C. B. HitchcockExamples of widespread in a Sentence
There is widespread public interest in the election.
Trade partners had become more widespread.
There was widespread opposition to the plan.
Recent Examples on the Web
The workers in Mississippi often voice the same complaints that many South Africans have about their country, such as its sluggish economy and widespread crime.
—Boyce Upholt, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
Cuba’s confirmation the of the talks come as the country faces a profound economic and energy crisis, with widespread blackouts and shortages of food and medine across the island.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Instead, the team’s performance helped ignite widespread American interest in the sport and laid the foundation for the eventual launch of Major League Soccer two years later.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
This feels especially pertinent now, given the widespread failure of governments and their aggressive tactics to keep control.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for widespread
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Boyce Upholt, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
Cuba’s confirmation the of the talks come as the country faces a profound economic and energy crisis, with widespread blackouts and shortages of food and medine across the island.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Instead, the team’s performance helped ignite widespread American interest in the sport and laid the foundation for the eventual launch of Major League Soccer two years later.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
This feels especially pertinent now, given the widespread failure of governments and their aggressive tactics to keep control.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for widespread
Cite this Entry
“Widespread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widespread. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
widespread
adjective
wide·spread
ˈwīd-ˈspred
1
: scattered or found over a wide area
widespread interest in the election
2
: spread out over a wide area
widespread wings
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