widespread

American  

[wahyd-spred] / ˈwaɪdˈsprɛd /

adjective

1. spread over or open, or occupying a wide space.

2. distributed over a wide region, or occurring in many places or among many persons or individuals.

   widespread poverty.

   Synonyms:

   far-flung, pervasive, extensive, far-reaching

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widespread British  

/ ˈwaɪdˌsprɛd /

adjective

1. extending over a wide area

2. accepted by or occurring among many people

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Etymology

Origin of widespread

First recorded in 1695–1705; wide + spread

Example Sentences

This most recent incident is a rare occurrence for robotaxi companies in China after the widespread rollout of such vehicles in major cities across the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

Milk parsley, which grows in marshy habitats, was once widespread around Hornsea Mere, but has declined sharply in recent decades.

From BBC

It also raised fears of a widespread oil supply disruption from other Gulf countries, leading to a surge in the cost of energy.

From BBC

Investors are worried that recent adverse legal rulings could open the door for widespread further penalties.

From The Wall Street Journal

Oracle’s stock has been battered by a factors like a widespread software selloff and concerns about the company’s pivot to AI cloud computing.

From MarketWatch