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

Example Sentences

As a result, interest in alternative treatments is widespread.

From Science Daily

But Vietnam's widespread embrace of the sport, and its cities' rapid growth in recent decades as the economy boomed, help explain the intense frustration.

From Barron's

While most people who use chatbots don’t develop mental-health problems, such widespread use of these AI companions is enough to have doctors concerned.

From The Wall Street Journal

The problem of declining groundwater is widespread in many rural areas of Arizona.

From Los Angeles Times

There is a widespread belief about what a Guardiola team looks like, but every league title the Spaniard has won has been secured with a unique system.

From BBC