Wide in extent from side to side; covering a large area or range; general rather than detailed; clear and obvious; having wide scope or variety; OR (noun — dated/offensive slang): a woman
The professor encouraged students to take a broad approach to their research rather than focusing too narrowly on one aspect, explaining that understanding the bigger picture would help them see connections they would otherwise miss and produce much richer, more insightful work.
This is the most basic physical meaning of broad—something that’s wide, spanning a large distance across. Broad shoulders. A broad river. A broad street. It’s about horizontal space, width rather than length or height. When something is broad, it stretches out impressively from one side to the other.
Vivid example: The swimmer’s broad shoulders and powerful arms cut through the water with remarkable efficiency, each stroke propelling him forward while his competitors struggled to keep pace in the lane beside him.
When something has broad coverage, it includes many things—a broad range of topics, a broad variety of options, a broad spectrum of opinions. It’s about comprehensiveness, reaching across many different areas rather than being limited to just one. Education should be broad. Experience should be broad. Understanding should be broad.
Vivid example: The museum offered a broad collection of art spanning five centuries and four continents, with everything from ancient sculptures to contemporary installations ensuring that every visitor would find something that spoke to them.
A broad description gives the general picture without precise details. A broad outline covers main points without specifics. Broad strokes paint the big picture. When someone speaks in broad terms, they’re staying general, avoiding the granular details that might complicate or limit what they’re saying.
Vivid example: The CEO gave only a broad overview of the company’s plans during the public announcement, saving the specific numbers and detailed timelines for the private investor meeting scheduled for later that afternoon.
Broad powers. Broad authority. Broad support. When something is broad in this sense, it applies widely—not limited to narrow circumstances. A law with broad implications affects many people. A skill with broad applications is useful in many situations.
Vivid example: The new legislation gave regulators broad authority to investigate companies suspected of environmental violations, powers so extensive that some business leaders complained it amounted to government overreach.
A broad hint is obvious—not subtle at all. A broad smile stretches across someone’s whole face, impossible to miss. Broad humor isn’t sophisticated; it’s obvious and accessible. When something is broad in this sense, anyone can see it or understand it immediately.
Vivid example: She dropped several broad hints about wanting a surprise party for her birthday, mentioning her favorite cake flavor and checking whether her friends were free that weekend so often that the “surprise” fooled absolutely no one.
Someone with a broad mind or broad views is open to different ideas and perspectives—not narrow or rigid in their thinking. Being broad-minded means accepting diversity and being willing to consider viewpoints different from your own. It’s the opposite of being judgmental or closed off.
Vivid example: Her parents were surprisingly broad-minded about her unconventional career choice, supporting her decision to become a street artist instead of following the traditional professional path they had originally imagined for her.
A broad accent is a strong, unmistakable regional way of speaking. A broad Scottish accent. A broad Southern drawl. A broad Yorkshire accent. The accent is so pronounced that it’s immediately recognizable—there’s no mistaking where the speaker comes from.
Vivid example: Despite twenty years of living in London, he still spoke with such a broad Irish accent that new acquaintances always asked which part of Ireland he was from within the first five minutes of meeting him.
In old American slang, especially from the mid-20th century, a “broad” meant a woman—usually with dismissive or disrespectful undertones. You’ll hear this in old movies, noir fiction, and period pieces. Today it’s considered offensive and outdated, though some people use it ironically or to evoke a vintage feel. Be careful with this one.
Vivid example: The 1940s detective novel was full of hardboiled language that hadn’t aged well, with the protagonist calling every woman he met a “broad” in a way that made modern readers cringe even while enjoying the vintage atmosphere.
This expression emphasizes that something happened when it was completely visible—not hidden by darkness or secrecy. Crimes committed “in broad daylight” are especially shocking because the criminal didn’t even try to hide. It suggests boldness, shamelessness, and the audacity of doing something wrong where everyone could see.
Vivid example: The thieves were so brazen that they stole the sculpture in broad daylight while tourists watched and filmed, assuming it must be some kind of official art removal rather than an actual crime happening before their eyes.
When you describe something “in broad strokes,” you’re giving the big picture without fine details—like a painter using wide brush strokes to block out major shapes before adding precision. It’s useful for quick overviews and general understanding, though it may miss important nuances.
Vivid example: The history teacher explained the causes of the war in broad strokes during the first class, promising to fill in the fascinating and complicated details over the coming weeks as students developed a framework for understanding them.
Something with broad appeal attracts a wide range of people—not just a niche audience but the general public. Movies aim for broad appeal to maximize ticket sales. Politicians seek broad appeal to win elections. Products need broad appeal to succeed in mass markets.
Vivid example: The film’s broad appeal surprised even its creators, attracting everyone from teenagers to grandparents with its combination of action sequences for younger viewers and nostalgic references that resonated with older audiences.
When there’s broad consensus or broad agreement, most people share the same view—not unanimous, but widespread enough that it represents a clear majority opinion. Scientists have broad consensus on climate change. There’s broad agreement that certain behaviors are unacceptable.
Vivid example: Despite their many disagreements, the committee reached broad consensus that the current system was broken and needed reform, even if they couldn’t yet agree on exactly what that reform should look like.
Beyond the literal meaning, having “broad shoulders” figuratively means being able to handle heavy responsibilities, criticism, or pressure without breaking down. Leaders need broad shoulders. Parents need broad shoulders. Anyone who takes on burdens for others needs broad shoulders to carry the weight.
Vivid example: The manager had broad shoulders when it came to taking blame for his team’s mistakes, always stepping forward to accept responsibility publicly while addressing performance issues privately, where they wouldn’t humiliate anyone.
Examples from the Street
“We need a broad range of skills for this project.” → We need a wide variety of abilities for this work
“The robbery happened in broad daylight.” → The theft occurred in the middle of the day when everyone could see
“In broad terms, the plan is working.” → Generally speaking, the strategy is succeeding
– a broad range/variety (of) → a wide selection
– broad shoulders → wide upper body
– a broad smile/grin → a wide, full smile
– broad support/appeal → widespread acceptance
– a broad spectrum (of) → a wide range
– in broad terms → generally speaking; without specifics
– a broad outline → a general overview without details
– broad categories → general groupings
– a broad definition → a general, inclusive meaning
– in the broadest sense → in the most general interpretation
– in broad daylight → during the day when visible to all
– a broad hint → an obvious, not subtle suggestion
– a broad accent → a strong regional accent
– broad agreement/consensus → general agreement among many
Example Sentences
1. The university offers a broad range of courses → The institution provides a wide variety of programmes.
2. He has broad shoulders and looks very athletic → He has a wide upper body and appears very sporty.
3. She greeted me with a broad smile → She welcomed me with a wide, full grin.
4. The policy has broad support across all parties → The plan has widespread backing from every political group.
5. In broad terms, the experiment was a success → Generally speaking, the test worked well.
6. Let me give you a broad outline of the plan → Let me provide you with a general overview of the strategy.
7. The theft happened in broad daylight — nobody tried to stop them → The robbery occurred in the middle of the day — no one attempted to intervene.
8. She dropped a broad hint about wanting a promotion → She made an obvious suggestion about desiring a higher position.
9. He speaks with a broad Scottish accent → He speaks with a strong regional voice from Scotland.
10. There is broad agreement that something must change → There is general consensus that action is needed.
Learner Examples
1. Reading widely gives you a broad vocabulary — you’ll encounter words in many different contexts → Reading extensively provides you with an extensive word bank — you’ll meet terms in numerous different situations.
2. In broad terms, fluency means being able to communicate without constant hesitation — the exact definition varies → Generally speaking, speaking smoothly means being able to express yourself without continual pausing — the precise meaning differs.
✔ Native usage tips
– “In broad daylight” is extremely common — this phrase expresses shock that something (usually bad) happened openly during the day when people could see. It emphasises the brazenness of an act
– “Broad” vs “wide” — subtle differences — both mean extensive, but “broad” often sounds more formal or abstract. “A broad range” sounds more sophisticated than “a wide range.” For physical objects, “wide” is more common: “a wide road” (not “broad road” in modern English)
– “Broad shoulders” works literally and figuratively — literally, it describes physical appearance; figuratively, “having broad shoulders” means being able to handle criticism or difficult situations without being upset
– “A broad accent” means strong, not wide — when describing accents, “broad” means pronounced or thick. “A broad Yorkshire accent” is a very strong Yorkshire accent that might be difficult to understand
– “In broad terms” is useful for summaries — use this phrase when you want to give a general picture without going into details. Very common in presentations and discussions
– Warning: “broad” as slang for woman is offensive — in older American slang, “broad” meant “woman” but this is now considered disrespectful. Avoid this usage entirely
– “Paint with a broad brush” is usually critical — this expression suggests someone is generalising unfairly and ignoring important differences. It’s a polite way of calling out stereotyping
✔ Similar expressions / words
– Wide → similar but more common for physical things; “wide street” is everyday language; “broad street” sounds old-fashioned or literary; for abstract concepts, “broad” is often preferred: “broad knowledge”
– Extensive → more formal; “extensive experience” and “broad experience” are similar; “extensive” emphasises quantity while “broad” emphasises variety
– General → similar for “in broad terms”; “in general terms” is equally common; “broad” adds a sense of encompassing more territory