breadth

noun \ ˈbretth , ˈbredth , ÷ˈbreth \

Updated on: 10 Dec 2017

Definition of breadth

1 : distance from side to side : width

the height, breadth, and depth of each piece of furniture

2 : something of full width

begin with a breadth of silk

3 a : comprehensive quality : scope

the breadth of his learning

b : liberality of views or taste

breadth of mind

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breadthwise

play \-ˌwīz\ adverb or adjective

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Examples of breadth in a Sentence

We measured the height, breadth, and depth of each piece of furniture.
a great breadth of land awaited those who were brave and hardy enough to settle it

Recent Examples of breadth from the Web

The breadth of subject matter on offer for museumgoers is astounding.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "These Breathtaking Images are the Cat’s Meow in Nature Photography," 30 Oct. 2017
The recent surge not only in groundbreakings, but ribbon-cuttings — the Holtec International manufacturing plant ($260 million in tax breaks) and 76ers headquarters and training facility ($82 million) — is impressive in its breadth.

— kevin riordan, Philly.com, "Forget Amazon. Will the other big development projects Christie backed be good for Camden?," 23 Oct. 2017
But frankly, what gives this show its emotional breadth are the two leading female characters, Miranda McGee as Lucy and Caitlin McWethy as Mina.

— david lyman, Cincinnati.com, "Review: CSC's sinister, seductive 'Dracula' a tale to sink your teeth into," 14 Oct. 2017
Other hatchbacks in the class are similarly flexible, but sedan-only models from Hyundai and others will struggle to compete with the Golf for breadth of purpose.

— michael simari, Car and Driver, "2018 Volkswagen Golf," 12 Oct. 2017
The sheer breadth of the virtual assistant's abilities is spectacular.

— stefan vazharov, Esquire, "Google's Pixel Is the Most Advanced Android Available," 31 Oct. 2016
Thus began a journey that would, in time, take it within an astronomical hair’s breadth of humanity’s home planet.

— The Economist, "AstronomyThe first visitor from another solar system has just been spotted," 2 Nov. 2017
This weekend, two series arrive that highlight the vast breadth of documentaries in an age of insatiable hunger for nonfiction stories.

— willa paskin, Slate Magazine, "Unsolved Mysteries," 15 Sep. 2017
The condemnation highlighted the breadth of atrocities in a war that has killed nearly half a million people and driven millions more to flee as refugees.

— louisa loveluck, chicagotribune.com, "United Nations accuses Syrian government of April sarin attack," 6 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breadth.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.