broadside

American  

[brawd-sahyd] / ˈbrɔdˌsaɪd /

noun

1. the whole side of a ship above the water line, from the bow to the quarter.

2. Navy.

   1. all the guns that can be fired from one side of a warship.

   2. a simultaneous discharge of all the guns on one side of a warship.

3. any strong or comprehensive attack, as by criticism.

4. Also called broadsheet. 

   1. a sheet of paper printed on one or both sides, as for distribution or posting.

   2. any printed advertising circular.

5. any broad surface or side, as of a house.

6. Also called broadside ballad.  a song, chiefly in 16th- and 17th-century England, written on a topical subject, printed on broadsides, and sung in public, as on a street corner, by a professional balladeer.

---

adverb

1. with the side, especially with the broader side, facing toward a given point or object.

   The truck hit the fence broadside.

2. in a wide-ranging manner; at random.

   to attack the president's policies broadside.

verb (used without object)

broadsided, broadsiding

1. to proceed or go broadside.

2. to fire a broadside or broadsides.

verb (used with object)

broadsided, broadsiding

1. to collide with or run into the side of (a vehicle, object, person, etc.).

   We got broadsided on the freeway.

2. to make concerted verbal attacks on.

   The president was broadsided by the opposition.

broadside British  

/ ˈbrɔːdˌsaɪd /

noun

1. nautical the entire side of a vessel, from stem to stern and from waterline to rail

2. navy

   1. all the armament fired from one side of a warship

   2. the simultaneous discharge of such armament

3. a strong or abusive verbal or written attack

4. Also called: broadside ballad.  a ballad or popular song printed on one side of a sheet of paper and sold by hawkers, esp in 16th-century England

5. any standard size of paper before cutting or folding

   demy broadside

6. another name for broadsheet

7. a large flat surface

   the broadside of the barn

---

adverb

1. with a broader side facing an object; sideways

   the train hit the lorry broadside

Etymology

Origin of broadside

First recorded in 1565–75; broad + side ¹

Example Sentences

Mohamed Salah has been welcomed back from the Africa Cup of Nations with open arms due to a lack of firepower up front despite his public broadside towards Slot last month.

From Barron's • Jan. 25, 2026

If C had chased through, we would have been hit broadside: “They have absolutely no respect for traffic laws.”

From Slate • Jan. 16, 2026

Musk, who had a rather messy departure from his official government role in May, is once again making waves with a social media broadside against another Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

From Salon • Oct. 27, 2025

A Dunlap broadside, along with a Yiddish-language letter and a bill of exchange, was sent overseas by the Jewish merchant Jonas Phillips to a relative in Amsterdam.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025

A little more, Davos Seaworth be- seeched the Warrior, bring her around a little more, show me her broadside.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• booklet
• brochure
• daily
• journal
• manual
• newsletter
• newspaper
• pamphlet
• paper
• periodical
• weekly