widespread

American  

[wahyd-spred] / ˈwaɪdˈsprɛd /

adjective

1. spread over or open, or occupying a wide space.

2. distributed over a wide region, or occurring in many places or among many persons or individuals.

   widespread poverty.

   Synonyms:

   far-flung , pervasive , extensive , far-reaching

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widespread British  

/ ˈwaɪdˌsprɛd /

adjective

1. extending over a wide area

2. accepted by or occurring among many people

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Etymology

Origin of widespread

First recorded in 1695–1705; wide + spread

Example Sentences

Overnight temperatures are expected to drop in the wake of each wind event, with widespread lows in the 40s for most areas and pockets of lows in the mid-20s to low 30s, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

The scandal has been called the UK's most widespread miscarriage of justice.

From BBC

While the plans have been met with widespread support from economic and tourism bodies, the scale of the development has been questioned by many living nearby.

From BBC

With more than one billion people worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.

From BBC

So far, worries of a widespread boycott of U.S. assets appears overblown.

From MarketWatch