breadth

American  

[bredth, bretth, breth] / brɛdθ, brɛtθ, brɛθ /

noun

1. the measure of the second largest dimension of a plane or solid figure; width.

2. an extent or piece of something of definite or full width or as measured by its width.

   a breadth of cloth.

3. freedom from narrowness or restraint; liberality.

   a person with great breadth of view.

   Synonyms:

   open-mindedness, impartiality, latitude

4. size in general; extent.

   Synonyms:

   compass, reach, range, scope, span

5. Art. a broad or general effect due to subordination of details or nonessentials.

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breadth British  

/ brɛtθ, brɛdθ /

noun

1. the linear extent or measurement of something from side to side; width

2. a piece of fabric having a standard or definite width

3. distance, extent, size, or dimension

4. openness and lack of restriction, esp of viewpoint or interest; liberality

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Other Word Forms

• breadthless adjective

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

Example Sentences

Last month, Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: "The volume, breadth and tempo of threats against elected representatives is unprecedented."

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Market breadth improved significantly on March 25, and if breadth is positive again on March 26, that will generate confirmed buy signals from both breadth oscillators.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

“We believe this combination of severe price compression, completely exhausted market breadth, and extreme pessimism is not a cause for panic, but rather a classic contrarian trading opportunity,” they wrote.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

The breadth of the securities market recovery is notable as small- and mid-cap turnover surged 135% in February, signaling the bull run isn’t just an index story but is broadening out across the market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

But there he was, just a hand’s breadth from her fingers, his gray eyes wide, his arms swinging as if he could turn them into wings.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Related Words

• comprehensiveness
• dimension
• fullness
• magnitude
• range
• scale
• scope
• size