widespread

adjective wide·spread \ ˈwīd-ˈspred \

Definition of widespread

1 : widely diffused or prevalent

widespread public interest

2 : widely extended or spread out

low, widespread hood and fenders
—Time

a widespread erosion surface
—C. B. Hitchcock

See widespread defined for English-language learners

See widespread defined for kids

Examples 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 of widespread from the Web

As the first big terrorist trial to take place since that new wave of attacks, the Merah trial has been seen here as hugely symbolic, a chance to put a face to a more widespread phenomenon, even an opportunity for national catharsis.

— rachel donadio, The Atlantic, "A Terrorist's Brother—and France—on Trial," 4 Nov. 2017
Auburn hadn't previously identified the players linked to the investigation, part of a widespread corruption case around college basketball.

— USA TODAY, "Auburn sits Wiley, Purifoy indefinitely during investigation," 2 Nov. 2017
Ethnic tensions have also flared between members of Odinga’s Luo community and Kenyatta’s Kikuyu group, raising fears of a repetition of the widespread violence that ensued after a contested 2007 vote and claimed at least 1,100 lives.

— felix njini, Bloomberg.com, "Kenyan Opposition Shuns Courts, Vows Protests Demanding New Vote," 1 Nov. 2017
This is the same rationale that fuels widespread dismissal of harassment, pressure, threat, abuse, and assault.

— jess zimmerman, The Cut, "When Men Treat Assault Stories Like Ghost Stories," 31 Oct. 2017
Barring widespread cheating, our man Joe will determine OHSAA football seeding Sunday well before The Great Pumpkin arrives Halloween night.

— scott springer, Cincinnati.com, "The prep football formula from here is pretty easy," 28 Oct. 2017
There is a widespread feeling that full-time MBAs are on their last legs, concedes Sangeet Chowfla, the president of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a business-school association.

— The Economist, "Reports of the MBA’s demise are exaggerated," 26 Oct. 2017
The private proceedings also allow banks to deal with individual problems quietly rather than address widespread abuses.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Here's What Happened Among Republicans a Few Hours After Jeff Flake's Speech," 25 Oct. 2017
That caused widespread acts of social protests by teams, including team owners, the following Sunday.

— stefan stevenson, star-telegram, "NFL Protest: 49ers unveil giant U.S.-shaped flag for anthem | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 22 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'widespread.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.