widespread

American  

[wahyd-spred] / ˈwaɪdˈsprɛd /

adjective

1. spread over or open, or occupying a wide space.

2. distributed over a wide region, or occurring in many places or among many persons or individuals.

   widespread poverty.

   Synonyms:

   far-flung, pervasive, extensive, far-reaching

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widespread British  

/ ˈwaɪdˌsprɛd /

adjective

1. extending over a wide area

2. accepted by or occurring among many people

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Etymology

Origin of widespread

First recorded in 1695–1705; wide + spread

Explanation

Widespread means far-reaching. For years, email was used only by computer programmers and technophiles. It was hard to imagine, back then, how widespread the phenomenon of digital communication would become. An idea that's widespread, is believed by many people, even if it's not true. A person such as Oprah, Gandhi, or Beyoncé, who has widespread popularity, is loved by many far and wide. A widespread disease is one that many people have — the flu epidemic of 1919 was deadly and widespread.

Example Sentences

Restoring Upland Nature said they have seen widespread support for the return of the "impressive" species but farming communities have previously raised concerns about the threat this predator could pose to lambs.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

The confusion began after a CNN-produced tribute-style segment was mistakenly published, leading to widespread online reaction that briefly suggested the actor had died.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

The families of the victims filed a $35-million claim against the county and state fireworks regulators alleging widespread negligence for allowing the illegal operation to continue.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

This insight could help move perovskite solar cells closer to widespread real-world use.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

One day I made note of a New York Times article I’d read that reported widespread fatigue, stress, and unhappiness among American lawyers—most especially female ones.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama