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.

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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

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

broadside broadsided broadsiding

To those in Griffin’s milieu, or who aspire to be, the video was a distasteful and even dangerous broadside against the city’s wealthy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026

Days before filing his lawsuit, Sun issued a lengthy broadside against WLF on X, labeling the firm “World Tyranny” Financial.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026

There was no immediate reaction to the broadside from Downing Street, where aides insist Sir Keir has acted in the British national interest, with a sense of where British public opinion is.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026

If he finds it to his benefit to launch another broadside against Petro, he won’t hesitate to do it.

From Salon ● Feb. 5, 2026

Much harden The water was running out against him, and every whitecap that struck him broadside sent water into the bottom of the boat.

From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt

Meanwhile, here was a drama about humans living in a galaxy far, far away, broadsided by an enemy they didn’t take seriously enough.

From Salon ● May 5, 2026

“Yeah,” Mr. Macron mumbled, before being broadsided by a bunch of other questions.

From New York Times ● Jun. 20, 2022

I’ve had several close encounters of being broadsided by unaware, careless and selfish drivers.

From Seattle Times ● May 20, 2022

At around 12:15 a.m. near Andover Drive and Glenoaks Boulevard, the Volkswagen was broadsided by two cars that appeared to be racing while making a left turn, Brimway said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2021

From the earliest moment that the dew would permit operations until the stooks stood eerie and indistinct in the thickening dusk the boys broadsided their two binders into the ranks of the standing grain.

From The Bail Jumper by Robert J. C. Stead

It slid off the end of the runway, broadsiding a steel tower that held landing lights.

From Time Magazine Archive

They blew past two of the plesios, Missy clobbering one with her tail and broadsiding the other, sending it and its riders collapsing into the water.

From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older

All he asked of anybody, by God! was to be let alone, though this broadsiding of defenseless people made him sick at the stummick, it did.

From Wild Justice: Stories of the South Seas by Lloyd Osbourne

Around and around she veered, broadsiding with astonishing accuracy, and knocking the spars about like a foot-ball team kicking a ball.

From Famous Privateersmen and Adventurers of the Sea Their rovings, cruises, escapades, and fierce battling upon the ocean for patriotism and for treasure by Charles Haven Ladd Johnston

There ensue five days of intricate sea-work; not much of broadsiding, mainly tugging out of sunk War-Ships, and the like, to get alongside of Castle Grand, which is the chief obstruction.

From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 12 by Thomas Carlyle

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Related Words

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