broadly

American  

[brawd-lee] / ˈbrɔd li /

adverb

1. across a wide area.

   Seismologists say the earthquake was broadly felt because the hard granite in the area of the epicenter strongly conducts ground motion.

2. to a great extent; widely.

   Which of these principles and values do you think are the most broadly shared by your neighbors?

3. to a similar extent; generally.

   Production is expected to be broadly in line with last year’s, setting us up for another record harvest.

4. in a widely diffused or bright manner.

   The curtains opened, revealing several characters milling about on a broadly lit stage.

5. in a way that is not limited, narrow, or overly specific.

   Network-connected computers are broadly categorized as either servers or workstations.

6. in a plain, clear, or bold manner.

   She knew immediately that the broadly scrawled handwriting on the note was her brother’s.

   Most of the people in these photographs are grinning broadly and looking directly into the camera.

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Etymology

Origin of broadly

broad ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

The adverb broadly is useful for describing something that's done in a general or approximate way. If you're broadly describing your new job, you're giving just the basic idea of it and leaving out the details. You're likely to see the word broadly within the phrase "broadly speaking." People often say this to mean "in general" or "on average." The word can also be used in a more literal way to mean "widely," as when you say, "The teacher seemed a little scary until she smiled broadly and welcomed them to class."

Example Sentences

More broadly, Mr. Perl-Rosenthal is excellent on the Revolution’s interpretive flexibility—its capacity to be claimed and reshaped by groups far beyond the Founders’ original horizon.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

No. The DEA’s federal order did not broadly legalize cannabis federally, Manzuri said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

“More broadly, everyone deserves to be able to seek and receive the healthcare that they need without fear that they, their parents or their doctors are going to be prosecuted for it.”

From Salon • May 22, 2026

Samsung bosses previously flagged that the strike could impact South Korea's economy more broadly, because of lower sales, investment outflows and lower tax revenue.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

When he heard that, William tried not to smile so broadly that you could see straight down his throat.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

Related Words

• commonly
• customarily
• largely
• mostly
• normally
• ordinarily
• publicly
• roughly
• typically
• universally
• usually
• widely