broad

SayBRAWD/bɹɔd/UK/bɹɔːd/

16 meanings of broad

1
wideadjective
Wide from side to side, or covering a large area or range.
The broad street had room for four lanes of cars.
His shoulders are broad and strong from years of swimming.
UsageWide is the more common word: a wide road.
Similarwide, extensive, large, vast
Oppositenarrow
Note
2
generaladjective
Covering many things in a general way, without small details.
Like looking at a whole forest instead of one tree.
The teacher asked a broad question about life in the past.
Give me a broad idea of the plan, not every small step.
UsageSay in broad terms to mean in general.
Similargeneral, overall, rough
Oppositespecific, detailed
3
adjective
Covering many things or allowing a lot, not narrow or limited.
The new manager has broad power to change the rules.
The law gives judges broad freedom in setting these fines.
Similarwide, sweeping, extensive, wide-ranging, comprehensive
Oppositenarrow, limited, restricted
Note
4
full (daylight)adjective
Spread out fully and openly, the way daylight fills everything.
The thief took the bike in broad daylight, right outside the store.
By eight in the morning, broad daylight filled the kitchen.
UsageMostly in in broad daylight.
Similarfull
Note

Less common meanings

5
over the topadjective
Of jokes or acting, very obvious and not subtle, sometimes a bit rude.
The clown's broad jokes made all the kids laugh.
The movie's humor is broad, full of falls and silly faces.
UsageIt can describe an acting style or express criticism.
Similarunsubtle, obvious, exaggerated
Oppositesubtle, understated
Note
6
strong accentadjective
Showing very strongly the way people from one area speak.
He answered in a broad Texas accent.
Her broad accent showed she grew up in Boston.
UsageSay a broad accent.
Similarstrong, heavy, thick, pronounced
Oppositeslight
7
womannounoffensivedatedUScountable
An old American slang word for a woman. Many people now find it rude.
The detective tipped his hat to the broad in the red dress.
The grunts resumed their bitching at the heat, the hills, and the lack of cold beer and hot broads.
1984, Charles Robert Anderson, The GruntsHere, broads is old American slang for women, now thought rude.
UsageSay woman instead.
Similarchick, babe, gal, lady, bird
Note
8
obviousadjective
Very clear and easy to notice or understand.
She gave a broad hint that she wanted to go home.
Mom dropped a broad hint about wanting flowers for her birthday.
UsageSay a broad hint.
Similarclear, obvious, plain, unmistakable, strong
Oppositesubtle
9
adjective
Free and open, not held back or kept inside limits.
as broad and general as the casing air
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”Here, broad means free and open, not held back by any limits.
Note
10
prostitutenoundatedcountable
An old insulting word for a woman who sells sex, or for one thought to have loose morals.
The sailor spent his pay on drink and a broad by the docks.
“Now we go up Bowery Street look at broads. Me pay.”
1925, John Dos Passos, Manhattan TransferHere, broads is an old insulting word for women who sell sex.
Similarhooker, escort, floozie, hustler, chippy
Note
11
playing cardnounarchaic
An old slang word for a playing card.
Note
12
nounUK
A wide, shallow lake in the east of England.
13
noun
A big light that spreads light over a wide area when people film movies or TV.
14
noun
A cutting tool used on a turning machine to shape the inside and bottom of a metal tube.
15
nounUK
An old British gold coin from the 1600s, worth twenty shillings.
16
adjective
In Irish and Scottish Gaelic, describes a consonant said without a y-like sound, often with the back of the tongue raised.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–6, 8–9, 11

From Old English brād, meaning broad or wide. Its exact origin is not known.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Broad derives from Old English brād. en.wiktionary.org
Old English brād meant broad or wide. en.wiktionary.org
The word's ultimate origin is uncertain. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 7, 10

An American English word from the early 1900s. It may come from "broad hips," or from "abroadwife," a woman living without her husband.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

This sense originated in American English in the early twentieth century. en.m.wiktionary.org
It may derive from “broad hips.” en.m.wiktionary.org
Another proposed source is “abroadwife,” meaning a woman living without her husband. en.m.wiktionary.org