Widespread
/ˈwaɪdspred/
Definitions
Common or happening over a large area or affecting a lot of people.
/ˈwaɪdspred/
Distributed or occurring over a large area or among many people.
The disease caused widespread panic.
💡 Simply: Imagine something like a rumor. If it spreads all over town, everyone knows about it. That's what widespread means – something that's everywhere or known by many.
👶 For kids: When something is everywhere, like when lots of kids have a toy, we say it's widespread!
More Examples
Widespread poverty is a major concern in many developing countries.
The company's new product received widespread acclaim.
How It's Used
"The widespread flooding caused significant damage."
"There is widespread concern about the impact of social media."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From "wide" + "spread," reflecting the action of extending or dispersing broadly. The term has been used since the late 18th century.
The term 'widespread' first appeared in the late 18th century and was initially used to describe the extensive dispersion of physical objects or events.
Memory tip
Think of spreading butter - the action of spreading means it's covering a 'wide' area.
Word Origin
"Broad, large"