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

Her collapse caused widespread worry among fans and other artists, and in an update confirming her tour cancellation she said she was "doing ok".

From BBC

"This break is not happening in a vacuum, but in a context of widespread mistrust," said John Plassard, head of investment strategy at Cite Gestion Private Bank.

From Barron's

“Concerns about the erosion of personal finances from high prices and elevated risk of job loss continue to be widespread,” Hsu said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The technology “threatens to eviscerate workers’ rights and cause widespread job loss,” the group said in a joint letter with AFL-CIO leaders in different states.

From Los Angeles Times

Voting has been delayed by a week in some municipalities because of the storms, which have killed at least five people, triggered flooding and caused widespread damage.

From Barron's