breadth
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the distance from one side of something to the other side.
the physical measurement or extent of something from side to side; width.
Simple“The boat was ten meters in length and three meters in breadth.”
In context“The valley was impressive not just for its depth, but for the sheer breadth of the river that cut through its center.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'in breadth' to describe a measurement.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a wide range of different things, such as subjects you know about or skills you have.
the comprehensive scope or range of something, particularly regarding intellectual or creative capacity.
Simple“The job requires a great breadth of experience in many different fields.”
In context“The candidate impressed the board with the breadth of her historical knowledge, which spanned from ancient civilizations to modern political theory.”
UsageCommonly collocated with 'of' (e.g., breadth of experience, breadth of knowledge).
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'depth'; explain that breadth refers to how many different things are covered, while depth refers to how much detail is involved.
Antonymslimitationnarrowness - 03 C2 Proficiency
a style of painting where the artist focuses on the whole picture rather than small details.
a quality in painting where details are subordinated to the harmony and effect of the whole composition.
Simple“The artist achieved a sense of breadth by using large, soft brushstrokes.”
In context“Critics praised the mural for its breadth, noting how the artist avoided fussy details to maintain a powerful overall impact.”
UsageUsed as an uncountable noun in art criticism.
Teacher's tipThis is a specialized term; most learners will only encounter it in academic art history contexts.
- 04 C1 Advanced
a single piece of cloth that has a standard width.
a single full width of a piece of fabric as it comes from the loom.
Simple“You will need four breadths of fabric to make these curtains.”
In context“The dressmaker carefully aligned the three breadths of silk to ensure the pattern remained consistent across the seams.”
UsageCountable in this sense.
Teacher's tipMainly used in tailoring or interior design (e.g., curtains).
“The breadth of the success of Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day was a particular surprise.”
“These courses and exams are not perfect; greater breadth should be a medium-term aim.”
From Middle English bredthe, alteration (due to nouns ending in -th: length, strength, wrength, etc.) of brede ("breadth"; see bread). Equivalent to broad + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Cognate with Scots bredth (“breadth”), Saterland Frisian Bratte (“breadth”), West Frisian breedte (“breadth”), Dutch breedte (“breadth”), German Low German Breddte, Breddt (“breadth”), German Breite (“breadth”), Danish bredde (“breadth”), Norwegian Bokmål bredde (“breadth”), Swedish bredd (“breadth”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.