broadband

American  

[brawd-band] / ˈbrɔdˌbænd /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or responsive to a continuous, wide range of frequencies.

2. relating to or denoting a type of high-speed data transmission in which the bandwidth is shared by more than one simultaneous signal.

   Broadband internet technologies are superior to dial-up connections for streaming video.

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noun

1. broadband transmission.

2. a broadband internet connection.

broadband British  

/ ˈbrɔːdˌbænd /

noun

1. a transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies that enables messages to be sent simultaneously, used in fast internet connections See also baseband

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broadband Cultural  

1. In communications technology, the ability to send many signals over a single cable or other such communication medium. Broadband technology allows enormous amounts of data, such as that for movie videos, to be transferred over limited information infrastructure.

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Etymology

Origin of broadband

First recorded in 1900–05; broad + band ²

Explanation

Broadband describes a system of sending a lot of data or information very quickly, particularly a speedy internet connection. Most people with broadband internet are able to stream movies instantly. Most Americans have broadband internet access today, a statistic that's changed dramatically over the past 25 years. Before broadband came to be nearly synonymous with the internet, it was used for other telecommunications, like radio transmissions and phone networks. The term refers to a large capacity for sending data — in other words, a broad bandwidth. That means it moves with exceptional speed, and that multiple channels of information can be sent at the same time.

Example Sentences

These are generally discounted packages on essential bills, such as water, energy and broadband, often available to people on benefits or who are struggling to pay.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

The Federal Communications Commission, which oversees the space-based cellular broadband industry, gave a boost to Amazon and its efforts to rival Starlink and AST last Friday.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

Starlink is SpaceX’s space-based broadband product with some 10,000 satellites and 10 million-plus subscribers.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Operators like SpaceX’s Starlink are filling the skies with them to offer space-based broadband and mobile-phone connections, aiming to get a piece of a promising market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Where the local broadband did get installed was in office buildings, which were already pretty well served by the old companies.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman