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 include ultrathin broadband polarizers that control the direction of light in compact optical systems, as well as sub-diffractional waveguides capable of guiding light through spaces smaller than those allowed by conventional optics.

From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 2026

The destroyed rocket had been due to deploy a batch of 48 satellites for Amazon's Leo broadband constellation - the network formerly known as Project Kuiper which is designed to challenge Elon Musk's Starlink.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Plus, the company had almost $19 billion in 2025 sales, most from its Starlink space-based broadband internet service.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

Charter Chief Executive Chris Winfrey has said that the company views providing a solid television package as essential to maintaining its position as a broadband provider.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 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