widespread

adjective wide·spread \ ˈwīd-ˈspred \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Examples: widespread in a Sentence

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

The task force was created last summer as part of the consent decree reached between the city and the U.S. Department of Justice in 2016, after a federal investigation found widespread unconstitutional and discriminatory police practices.

— jessica anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Panel reviewing police civilian oversight calls for more powerful 'independent police accountability agency'," 13 July 2018
At the time, there was already widespread speculation that the Guccifer 2.0 account might be connected to the Russian government.

— rosalind s. helderman and manuel roig-franzia, chicagotribune.com, "Charges against Russian officers intensify spotlight on Trump adviser Stone," 13 July 2018
Subsequent rounds of retaliation could deeper and become more widespread, with more industries and regions impacted.

— phillip molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Can the U.S. economy withstand a trade war?," 13 July 2018
The hospital has acknowledged a higher death rate around that time, raising speculation that the poisoning may have been systematic and more widespread.

— Washington Post, "Japan police search home of nurse in hospital poison deaths," 12 July 2018
In a sign of just how widespread and deeply emotional the topic has become, Torpey isn’t the only one in the industry centering—or at least trying to center—a show on issue.

— lucinda shen, Fortune, "New TruTV Game Show Lets Student Borrowers Compete to Tame Their Debt," 5 July 2018
Just not as widespread, full-faced, or public as now.

— john baer, Philly.com, "Take a moment, America | John Baer," 3 July 2018
Amusingly, Fourth of July would become even more widespread throughout the nation after the War of 1812 with Great Britain, according to PBS.

— fernando ramirez, Houston Chronicle, "How Americans have celebrated Fourth of July through the ages," 3 July 2018
And though support for gun control is as widespread as San Felice and anti-gun violence activists attest, that doesn’t mean it’s an effective campaign issue or one that will be associated with legislative action anytime soon.

— jennie neufeld, Vox, "A Capital Gazette shooting survivor doesn’t want your thoughts and prayers," 2 July 2018

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.

First Known Use of widespread

1582

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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widespread Synonyms

WIDESPREAD Defined for English Language Learners

widespread

adjective

Definition of widespread for English Language Learners

: common over a wide area or among many people

WIDESPREAD Defined for Kids

widespread

adjective wide·spread \ ˈwīd-ˈspred \

Definition of widespread for Students

1 : widely stretched out

widespread wings

2 : widely scattered

widespread public interest

Learn More about widespread

See words that rhyme with widespread Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for widespread Spanish Central: Translation of widespread Nglish: Translation of widespread for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of widespread for Arabic speakers

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widespread

Definition of widespread

Examples of widespread in a Sentence

Recent Examples of widespread from the Web

First Known Use of widespread

widespread Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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WIDESPREAD Defined for English Language Learners

widespread

Definition of widespread for English Language Learners

WIDESPREAD Defined for Kids

widespread

Definition of widespread for Students

Learn More about widespread

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