What does broadness mean?
Broadness is a noun describing the state or quality of being broad — whether in a physical sense, such as the wide expanse of a river or the span of someone's shoulders, or in a figurative sense, referring to something extensive, inclusive, or far-reaching in scope. It is derived straightforwardly from the adjective 'broad', which traces back through Middle English to Old English 'brād'. In everyday usage, broadness competes with the older and more common synonym 'breadth', which tends to dominate abstract expressions like 'breadth of knowledge' or 'breadth of experience'. Broadness is therefore most at home in direct physical descriptions — 'the broadness of the plain stretched to the horizon' — though writers do use it figuratively when they want a plainer, more transparent alternative. Its meaning is instantly graspable: whatever it modifies, it signals expansiveness across a lateral dimension.
nounThe quality or state of being broad; the extent to which something is wide, extensive, or comprehensive.
- The physical quality of being wide or large from side to side.
- The figurative quality of being extensive, inclusive, or far-reaching in scope.
"The broadness of the river made the crossing impossible on foot."
"The broadness of his shoulders filled the doorway."
"Critics praised the broadness of the novel's vision."
Rarely pluralized, since the quality it names is typically treated as uncountable.
"The artist's sketches captured the varied broadnesses of the landscape's forms."
English already had a perfectly good word for this — breadth — but broadness persists as the more literal, no-frills way to say 'how broad it is.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of broadness
Broadness is formed from the adjective 'broad', which descends from Old English 'brād', meaning wide or extended, via the standard noun-forming suffix '-ness'. Cognates appear across the Germanic languages, including Dutch 'breed' and German 'breit', all stemming from a common Proto-Germanic root. The related noun 'breadth' arose later by analogy with words like 'length' and 'strength', giving English two parallel nouns for the same quality.
How broadness is actually used
Somewhat less common than its synonym 'breadth'; often used in literal physical descriptions, whereas 'breadth' is preferred in abstract contexts such as 'breadth of knowledge'.
Easily confused with broadness
'Breadth' is the standard, more common term for width or scope, while 'broadness' is a less frequent synonym formed directly from the adjective 'broad'.