by and large

British  

adverb

1. in general; on the whole

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by and large Idioms  

1. For the most part, generally speaking, as in By and large the novel was a success. This expression originated in 17th-century seamanship, where it referred to sailing into the wind and then off it, which made it easier to steer. By the early 1700s the term had been broadened to mean “in one direction and another,” whence its present meaning of “in general.” For a synonym, see for the most part.

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Etymology

Origin of by and large

C17: originally nautical (meaning: to the wind and off it)

Example Sentences

Latchkey kids were those whose parents were working a lot or not home, so they grew up by and large unsupervised.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is a cisgender male phenomenon, by and large,” said Eric Madfis, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Washington at Tacoma, who has studied the gender dynamics of school shootings.

From Washington Post

But the lower court decisions we’ve seen are not, by and large, outlandish applications of the Supreme Court’s test.

From Los Angeles Times

Gensler said investors by and large now demanded and many companies were providing climate disclosures.

From Reuters

For women, who by and large worked in the home in the 19th century, the idea of being “self-made” was a nonstarter.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• commonly
• consistently
• customarily
• frequently
• generally
• mostly
• naturally
• normally
• occasionally
• often
• ordinarily
• regularly
• routinely
• sometimes