What does widemouthed mean?
Widemouthed is an adjective meaning that something has a broad mouth or opening. Its clearest modern use is for jars, bottles, vessels, funnels, and similar objects: a widemouthed container has an opening wide enough to make filling, pouring, cleaning, or reaching inside easier. The word emphasizes the physical proportions of the opening rather than an emotional expression, although it can occasionally be applied figuratively to a person with an open mouth. It is common in practical, descriptive, and technical contexts where the width of an opening is relevant. Both “widemouthed” and the hyphenated “wide-mouthed” occur in modern English. The term is related in meaning to “broad-mouthed” and “open-mouthed,” but “narrow-mouthed” expresses the direct physical contrast. Widemouthed is a useful word when precision matters, distinguishing an object designed with a generous opening from one with a restricted or constricted mouth.
adjectiveHaving a wide mouth or other broad opening. It is used especially of containers, vessels, and openings whose broad opening facilitates filling, pouring, access, or similar activity.
- Having a mouth or other opening that is broad in width.
"She reached into the widemouthed jar for another handful of beans."
"She reached into the widemouthed jar for another handful of beans."
"Each widemouthed vessel received a numbered label before sterilization."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of widemouthed
The English adjective is a transparent compound of “wide,” “mouth,” and the adjectival suffix “-ed.” “Wide” descends from Old English wīd, meaning broad or extensive, while “mouth” descends from Old English mūþ. The compound developed as a descriptive term for objects with an unusually broad opening, and it is closely related in modern English to forms such as mouthed, mouthful, and mouthing.
How widemouthed is actually used
The word is chiefly attributive and most often describes a container or opening. Spellings vary: “wide-mouthed” is common, while “widemouthed” is also used.