broad
broad — adjective
1. spreading widely across an area, with a large width.
spreading widely across an area, with a large width.
The river was so broad that we could not see the far bank.
be + broad for great physical width
A broad wooden table filled most of the small dining room.
broad + noun for wide surfaces
From the hill, Priya saw a broad green valley below.
The horse had a broad back and powerful legs.
Two broad stone steps led up to the village church.
- broad river
- broad valley
- broad table
- broad back
- broad shoulders
Grammar Patterns
broad + noun
be + broad
Usage Note
Common with nouns that suggest a large surface or span, such as river, table, shoulders, back, and valley. Compared with 'wide', this word often gives a stronger picture of spread or openness.
2. placed after a measurement to give an object's width.
placed after a measurement to give an object's width.
The path is only two meters broad after the fence was moved.
be + number + broad for measurements
Each shelf was fifty centimeters broad, so the boxes fit.
The kitchen window is less than a meter broad.
At its narrow end, the bridge was just three feet broad.
- two meters broad
- fifty centimeters broad
- three feet broad
Grammar Patterns
[number] + broad
be + [number] + broad
Usage Note
Used after a measurement, especially in descriptions of size. In everyday speech, many people choose 'wide' instead, but 'broad' still appears in writing and formal description.
Common Mistakes
3. covering many different things, or dealing only with the main points.
covering many different things, or dealing only with the main points.
The course gives a broad introduction to modern African history.
broad + introduction / overview / outline
The minister outlined broad policy areas for housing, schools, and public transport.
The report offers a broad picture of housing problems in Taipei.
broad picture = general view
At dinner, they had a broad discussion about work, art, and travel.
The teacher gave broad advice instead of checking each sentence.
- broad range
- broad view
- broad picture
- broad outline
- broad agreement
- general
focuses on the main idea rather than details
- wide-ranging
emphasizes variety and spread across many topics
- overall
often used for summaries or final judgments
Grammar Patterns
broad + noun
Usage Note
Common with nouns like range, view, outline, picture, agreement, and support. Distinguish from sense 1: here the idea is range or lack of detail, not physical width.
Common Mistakes
4. describing an accent that is very strong, so people can quickly tell the speaker
describing an accent that is very strong, so people can quickly tell the speaker's region.
Even on television, Yusuf kept his broad Glasgow accent.
broad accent = strongly regional speech
The farmer's broad accent was hard for city visitors to follow.
Rina softened her broad accent during the job interview.
That broad accent gave away the town where the caller grew up.
- broad accent
- broad dialect
- broad vowels
Grammar Patterns
broad + accent
broad + dialect
Usage Note
Almost always used with 'accent' or 'dialect'. It does not mean pleasant or deep speech; it means speech that sounds strongly local.
Common Mistakes
5. describing humour that is direct, easy to get, and often a little rude or sexual
describing humour that is direct, easy to get, and often a little rude or sexual.
The comic opened with broad jokes about dating apps and bad kisses.
broad jokes = obvious, often rude comedy
Grandma rolled her eyes at the film's broad bathroom humor.
The play mixes clever lines with broad jokes for younger viewers.
That broad joke made half the table laugh and half groan.
The show used broad humor to keep the holiday crowd happy.
broad humor / comedy
- broad joke
- broad humor
- broad comedy
Grammar Patterns
broad + joke
broad + humor
broad + comedy
Usage Note
Usually modifies words like joke, humour, comedy, or laugh. It often suggests low subtlety and may also suggest sexual or body-based comedy.
6. used for a hint that is so clear it almost says the thing directly.
used for a hint that is so clear it almost says the thing directly.
Mina dropped a broad hint about wanting tickets for Friday's concert.
collocation: broad hint
Dad gave a broad hint that the dishes still needed washing.
give a broad hint + that-clause
The email contained a broad hint about who would lead the team.
With one broad hint, the coach made everyone pack faster.
- broad hint
- give a broad hint
- drop a broad hint
Grammar Patterns
broad + hint
give + a broad hint
Usage Note
Most often found in the phrase 'broad hint'. Distinguish from sense 5: this sense is about an indirect message that is almost too clear, not about comedy.
Common Mistakes
a broad church
idiomAn organization that includes people with many different opinions.
The university is a broad church, welcoming students from all backgrounds.
Is the club a broad church that accepts different political views?
(in) broad daylight
idiomDuring the day when it is light and easy to see.
The thief stole the bike in broad daylight on a busy street.
How could they break into the house in broad daylight?
Two choices are equally good or bad, so it does not matter which one you pick.
Whether we go by train or bus, it's as broad as it's long.
Choosing between the two job offers is as broad as it's long.
To describe something in a general way without giving specific details.
The report painted the situation with a broad brush, missing important facts.
Don't paint all politicians with a broad brush; some are honest.
broad — noun
1. a dated insult used about a woman.
a dated insult used about a woman.
The bartender told the tourist never to call women broads.
offensive slang for a woman
In old crime films, gangsters sometimes used broad as an insult.
The article explains why broad sounds dated and offensive today.
Hana left after hearing a stranger use broad about her friend.
- call someone a broad
- use broad as an insult
Grammar Patterns
call + someone + a broad
use broad for a woman
Usage Note
Usually seen in old films, crime fiction, or discussions of insulting language. Avoid using it for real people, because it sounds disrespectful and offensive.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
Broad and wide both describe something that reaches a long way from one side to the other, but they are not always the same in use. Wide is the most neutral and common choice, especially for measurement: a road can be six meters wide, and a door can be wide enough for a wheelchair. Broad often adds a visual sense of spread or openness, so it sounds especially natural with shoulders, smiles, valleys, and rivers. Spacious is used for places with a lot of room inside, such as a kitchen, office, or train carriage, not usually for body parts or strips of land. Expansive is more literary and suggests impressive scale or openness. So you can say a broad river, a wide door, a spacious kitchen, and an expansive plain. If you choose wide in most everyday cases, you will sound safe; use broad when you want a stronger image of spread.
Etymology
Broad comes from Old English 'brad', which meant wide or spread out. It is related to words in other Germanic languages, including Old Norse 'breidr' and German 'breit'. The earliest English use was about physical width, but later the word grew into figurative meanings such as a broad view, a broad hint, or broad humour.