breadth
Americannoun
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the measure of the second largest dimension of a plane or solid figure; width.
-
an extent or piece of something of definite or full width or as measured by its width.
a breadth of cloth.
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freedom from narrowness or restraint; liberality.
a person with great breadth of view.
- Synonyms:
- open-mindedness, impartiality, latitude
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size in general; extent.
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Art. a broad or general effect due to subordination of details or nonessentials.
noun
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the linear extent or measurement of something from side to side; width
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a piece of fabric having a standard or definite width
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distance, extent, size, or dimension
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openness and lack of restriction, esp of viewpoint or interest; liberality
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of breadth
1515–25; earlier bredeth, equivalent to brede breadth ( Middle English; Old English brǣdu, equivalent to brǣd-, mutated variant of brād broad + -u noun suffix) + -th 1 ( def. ) akin to German Breite, Gothic braidei
Explanation
If you measure the distance of an object from side to side, you are measuring the object’s breadth: “Theodore measured the breadth of the table before buying it to make sure it would fit in his small kitchen.” Breadth often refers to a physical measurement, but it can also be used to describe comprehensiveness or largeness of any kind, such as breadth of knowledge or breadth of experience. In the famous sentence describing Macedonian king Alexander the Great, the word breadth is used to indicate the vastness of Alexander’s empire: “When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.”
Vocabulary lists containing breadth
100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
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Mythology
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The Time Machine
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That breadth is particularly notable given how closely Graham became associated with Trump during the president’s two terms in office.
From Salon • Jul. 12, 2026
Market breadth and market leadership are two very different things, Stockton said, outlining that semiconductor stocks have had particularly narrow leadership.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 10, 2026
"We had concerns around the scope and breadth of data that was being required," he said.
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2026
Their breadth and quality render his rejection of “designer” less a contradiction than a philosophy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
Before me was a space of such immense size, height, depth, and breadth, that I never would have thought it could exist on mortal earth.
From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
