Broad vs. Wide: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Broad" refers to having a great extent from side to side; "wide" specifically denotes a large distance or extent from one side to the other.
Key Differences
Broad is often used to describe something that has a considerable or extensive width. Wide specifically refers to the physical distance or expanse from one side to another.
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Dec 01, 2023
Broad can also imply generality or inclusiveness in non-physical contexts. Wide, in contrast, is typically used for physical measurements and spatial extents.
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Dec 01, 2023
The term broad is sometimes used figuratively to imply a wide range or diversity. Wide tends to remain more literal, describing the actual breadth of an object or space.
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Dec 01, 2023
In certain phrases, broad is used to convey a sense of expansiveness or comprehensiveness. Wide is more commonly paired with specific measurements or used in phrases that emphasize the physical aspect of width.
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Dec 01, 2023
Broad may also relate to abstract concepts, like a broad understanding. Wide, however, is mostly used to describe tangible, measurable distances or scopes.
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Dec 01, 2023
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Comparison Chart
General Use
Describes extensive width or general inclusiveness
Refers to physical distance from side to side
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Dec 01, 2023
Contextual Application
Used both physically and metaphorically
Primarily used for physical measurements
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Dec 01, 2023
Figurative Use
Can denote a wide range or diversity
Less commonly used in a figurative sense
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Dec 01, 2023
Abstract Associations
Often associated with abstract concepts
Mostly associated with tangible extents
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Dec 01, 2023
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Broad and Wide Definitions
Broad
Comprehensive in scope or content.
He had a broad knowledge of classical music.
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Nov 22, 2023
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Wide
Extending over a great distance from side to side; broad
A wide road.
A wide necktie.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Having great extent or range; including much or many
A wide selection.
Granting wide powers.
Wide variations.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Wide
To the side of or at a distance from a given boundary, limit, or goal
A shot that was wide of the target.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
(Sports) Being toward or near one of the side boundaries of a playing area, such as a sideline on a football field.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Deviating or straying from something expected or specified
A remark that was wide of the truth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Relating to or covering the main facts or the essential points
A plan presented in broad outline.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
To the side of or at a distance from a given boundary, limit, or goal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
(Linguistics) Pronounced with the tongue placed low and flat and with the oral cavity wide open, like the a in father.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
(Sports) Toward or near one of the sides of a playing area
Ran wide to catch a pass.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
A ball bowled outside of the batsman's reach, counting as a run for the batting team in cricket.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Having a large physical extent from side to side.
We walked down a wide corridor.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Wide
(sports) Operating at the side of the playing area.
That team needs a decent wide player.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
On one side or the other of the mark; too far sideways from the mark, the wicket, the batsman, etc.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Having a large measure of any thing or quality; unlimited; unrestrained.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Made, as a vowel, with a less tense, and more open and relaxed, condition of the organs in the mouth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
(computing) Of or supporting a greater range of text characters than can fit into the traditional 8-bit representation.
A wide character; a wide stream
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
(dated) Gross; coarse; indelicate.
A broad compliment; a broad joke; broad humour
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
(of an accent) Strongly regional.
She still has a broad Scottish accent, despite moving to California 20 years ago.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Away from or to one side of a given goal
The arrow fell wide of the mark.
A few shots were fired but they all went wide.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Broad
(UK) A shallow lake, one of a number of bodies of water in eastern Norfolk and Suffolk.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
So as to leave or have a great space between the sides; so as to form a large opening.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
(cricket) A ball that passes so far from the batsman that the umpire deems it unplayable; the arm signal used by an umpire to signal a wide; the extra run added to the batting side's score
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
A British gold coin worth 20 shillings, issued by the Commonwealth of England in 1656.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Having considerable distance or extent between the sides; spacious across; much extended in a direction at right angles to that of length; not narrow; broad; as, wide cloth; a wide table; a wide highway; a wide bed; a wide hall or entry.
The chambers and the stables weren wyde.
Wide is the gate . . . that leadeth to destruction.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Having a great extent every way; extended; spacious; broad; vast; extensive; as, a wide plain; the wide ocean; a wide difference.
For sceptered cynics earth were far too wide a den.
When the wide bloom, on earth that lies,Seems of a brighter world than ours.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Of large scope; comprehensive; liberal; broad; as, wide views; a wide understanding.
Men of strongest head and widest culture.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Of a certain measure between the sides; measuring in a direction at right angles to that of length; as, a table three feet wide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Remote; distant; far.
The contrary being so wide from the truth of Scripture and the attributes of God.
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Wide; extend in breadth, or from side to side; - opposed to narrow; as, a broad street, a broad table; an inch broad.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Far from truth, from propriety, from necessity, or the like.
It is far wide that the people have such judgments.
How wide is all this long pretense !
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Extending far and wide; extensive; vast; as, the broad expanse of ocean.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
On one side or the other of the mark; too far side-wise from the mark, the wicket, the batsman, etc.
Surely he shoots wide on the bow hand.
I was but two bows wide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Made, as a vowel, with a less tense, and more open and relaxed, condition of the mouth organs; - opposed to primary as used by Mr. Bell, and to narrow as used by Mr. Sweet. The effect, as explained by Mr. Bell, is due to the relaxation or tension of the pharynx; as explained by Mr. Sweet and others, it is due to the action of the tongue. The wide of ē (ēve) is ĭ (ĭll); of ā (āte) is ĕ (ĕnd), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, 13-15.
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing or quality; not limited; not restrained; - applied to any subject, and retaining the literal idea more or less clearly, the precise meaning depending largely on the substantive.
A broad mixture of falsehood.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Having or showing a wide difference between the highest and lowest price, amount of supply, etc.; as, a wide opening; wide prices, where the prices bid and asked differ by several points.
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
The words in the Constitution are broad enough to include the case.
In a broad, statesmanlike, and masterly way.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
To a distance; far; widely; to a great distance or extent; as, his fame was spread wide.
[I] went wyde in this world, wonders to hear.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
So as to leave or have a great space between the sides; so as to form a large opening.
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Free; unrestrained; unconfined.
As broad and general as the casing air.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
So as to be or strike far from, or on one side of, an object or purpose; aside; astray.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Cross; coarse; indelicate; as, a broad compliment; a broad joke; broad humor.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Strongly marked; as, a broad Scotch accent.
It is as broad as long, whether they rise to others, or bring others down to them.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other;
Wide roads
A wide necktie
Wide margins
Three feet wide
A river two miles broad
Broad shoulders
A broad river
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Broad in scope or content;
Across-the-board pay increases
An all-embracing definition
Blanket sanctions against human-rights violators
An invention with broad applications
A panoptic study of Soviet nationality
Granted him wide powers
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
(used of eyes) fully open or extended;
Listened in round-eyed wonder
Stared with wide eyes
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Very large in expanse or scope;
A broad lawn
The wide plains
A spacious view
Spacious skies
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
A woman, especially one who is sexually promiscuous; - usually considered offensive.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Great in range or scope;
An extended vocabulary
Surgeons with extended experience
Extensive examples of picture writing
Suffered extensive damage
A wide selection
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other;
Wide roads
A wide necktie
Wide margins
Three feet wide
A river two miles broad
Broad shoulders
A broad river
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Broad in scope or content;
Across-the-board pay increases
An all-embracing definition
Blanket sanctions against human-rights violators
An invention with broad applications
A panoptic study of Soviet nationality
Granted him wide powers
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Not on target;
The kick was wide
The arrow was wide of the mark
A claim that was wide of the truth
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Not detailed or specific;
A broad rule
The broad outlines of the plan
Felt an unspecific dread
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
With or by a broad space;
Stand with legs wide apart
Ran wide around left end
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Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Lacking subtlety; obvious;
Gave us a broad hint that it was time to leave
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
To the fullest extent possible;
Open your eyes wide
With the throttle wide open
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Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Far from the intended target;
The arrow went wide of the mark
A bullet went astray and killed a bystander
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Broad
Very large in expanse or scope;
A broad lawn
The wide plains
A spacious view
Spacious skies
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Wide
To or over a great extent or range; far;
Wandered wide through many lands
He traveled widely
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Having a specified extent from side to side.
The door was wide enough to accommodate the large furniture.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 22, 2023
Broad
Showing or characterized by broad-mindedness;
A broad political stance
Generous and broad sympathies
A liberal newspaper
Tolerant of his opponent's opinions
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Wide
Encompassing a large number or variety.
They offered a wide selection of books.
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Nov 22, 2023
Broad
Wide in range or diversity.
The museum offered a broad array of exhibits.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 22, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Does wide always mean large?
Yes, it usually implies a larger-than-average extent from side to side.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Can wide be used in a non-physical context?
Rarely, as wide typically refers to physical dimensions.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Can wide describe a gap or space?
Yes, especially to indicate its physical extent.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Is broad used for non-physical traits?
Yes, broad can describe non-physical traits like a broad perspective.
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Dec 01, 2023
What does a broad approach mean?
It means considering a wide range of factors or perspectives.
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Dec 01, 2023
Can broad be used to describe diversity?
Yes, it can describe a wide range or variety in concepts or items.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Does broad have a synonym?
Expansive or extensive can be synonyms for broad.
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Dec 01, 2023
Is wide used in sports?
Yes, like in cricket to describe a ball bowled too far from the batsman.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Can wide refer to a measurement?
Yes, wide often refers to specific spatial measurements.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Can broad be used in art?
Yes, to describe expansive strokes or a wide range of styles.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
What does wide-eyed mean?
It means having the eyes fully open, often due to surprise or awe.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Is broad a technical term?
Not typically; it's more often used in general or figurative language.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
What does 'worldwide' imply?
It implies extending or reaching throughout the world.
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Dec 01, 2023
What is a broad statement?
It's a general statement without specific details.
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Dec 01, 2023
What does broad daylight imply?
It implies something done openly, without hiding.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Can wide be used in navigation?
Yes, to describe the breadth of a passage or channel.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Does broad apply to opinions?
Yes, it can describe a wide-ranging or general opinion.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
Does wide have a literal and figurative use?
It's mostly literal, but can occasionally be figurative.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 01, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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