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

a widespread erosion surface

—C. B. Hitchcock

Synonyms of widespread

• extensive
• broad
• wide
• sweeping
• deep

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 on the Web

Achieving this will enable a massive reduction in energy and water consumption across the industry’s most widespread materials. —Lauren Parker, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2025

Rain chances will begin to tick up after the sun goes down, with widespread light to moderate rain falling through the overnight hours. —Ron Smiley, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025

Southern California is experiencing its fourth significant storm in a week, prompting widespread weather warnings across major centers. —Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Those T cells then recruit many more immune cells that then attack the body’s own nuclear material, creating the widespread autoimmune reaction seen in lupus. —New Atlas, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for widespread

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead

Kids 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