across-the-board

adjective

ə-ˈkrȯs-ṯẖə-ˈbȯrd 

1

: placed to win if a competitor wins, places, or shows

an across-the-board racing bet

2

: embracing or affecting all classes or categories : blanket

an across-the-board price increase

Synonyms

• general
• overall
• generic
• universal
• common
• broad

Examples of across-the-board in a Sentence

an across-the-board reduction in the state's budget because of declining revenues

Recent Examples on the Web

This would mark the fourth across-the-board tariff Trump has imposed during his second term. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 8 July 2025

Still, an across-the-board 10% tariff applies to nearly all imports, except for semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and some other items. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 July 2025

The across-the-board souring on Musk translated into dim sales for Tesla vehicles, as the company logged its worst-ever annual vehicle delivery declines in each of 2025’s first two quarters. —Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

Once that happens, Social Security beneficiaries would face an across-the-board benefit cut of around 24%, CRFB says. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 7 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for across-the-board

• particleboard
• phonorecord
• underinsured
• abhorred
• aboard
• accord
• adored
• afford
• award
• baseboard
• billboard
• blackboard