broad-spectrum

[ brawd-spek-truhm ]

adjective

1. noting an antibiotic, insecticide, or other chemical effective against a wide range of organisms.
2. noting a sunscreen effective in absorbing or blocking ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) radiation.
3. having a wide range of uses:

   The questionnaire is a broad-spectrum tool for diagnosing depression and anxiety.

broad-spectrum

noun

1. modifier effective against a wide variety of diseases or microorganisms

   a broad-spectrum antibiotic

Word History and Origins

Origin of broad-spectrum¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

First, in zebrafish embryos, D22 treatment cleared A. baumannii infection as effectively as ciprofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for complicated infections.

From Science Daily

“We are frequently resorting to broad-spectrum antibiotics like amoxicillin or ciprofloxacin, which are not suitable for all infections. This practice is contributing to increased bacterial resistance, a highly dangerous trend in a setting where infections are rampant and resources are already stretched thin.”

From Salon

Rasmussen Reports used to be a fairly creditable and credible political polling organization, good enough to be included among the pollsters relied on by services such as FiveThirtyEight to give a broad-spectrum gauge of voter sentiment in the run-up to state and federal elections.

From Los Angeles Times

The research team also remains hopeful about the potential use of this broad-spectrum antiviral medicine against other RNA viruses.

From Science Daily

Among them is the common, broad-spectrum drug streptomycin.

From Science Daily