# widespread

/ˈwaɪdsˈpɹɛd/ (US) · /wˈaɪdspɹɛd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/widespread
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. common or extensive

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

existing or happening in many places and affecting many people.

For teachers: distributed over a broad area or occurring extensively within a specific group or system.

- There is widespread concern about the new law among small business owners.
- Despite the implementation of new safety protocols, there remains widespread skepticism regarding the long-term efficacy of the proposed measures.

Usage: Often used to describe abstract nouns like concern, belief, support, or poverty.

Teaching tip: This is a high-frequency word in academic and journalistic writing; it sounds more formal than saying 'many people think' or 'it is everywhere'.

### 2. physically spread out

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

covering a very large physical area.

For teachers: extending over a wide geographical range or physical space.

- The storm caused widespread damage across the entire valley.
- The satellite imagery revealed widespread deforestation along the border, indicating a significant shift in local land-use patterns over the last decade.

## Examples

- The storm caused widespread damage across the city.
- There is widespread concern among parents about the new school safety policies being introduced next month.
- Despite the government's efforts to stabilize the economy, there remains widespread skepticism regarding the long-term effectiveness of the current fiscal measures.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.