bandwidth

noun

band·​width ˈband-ˌwidth 

-ˌwitth

1

: a range within a band of wavelengths, frequencies, or energies

especially : a range of radio frequencies which is occupied by a modulated carrier wave, which is assigned to a service, or over which a device can operate

2

: the capacity for data transfer of an electronic communications system

Graphics consume more bandwidth than text does.

especially : the maximum data transfer rate of such a system

a bandwidth of 100 megabits per second

3

: the emotional or mental capacity necessary to do or consider something

I don't have the bandwidth to do it all myself, and I feel like a failure because I'm not living up to my own ideals.

—Frances Lefkowitz

Examples of bandwidth in a Sentence

The modem has a bandwidth of 56 kilobits per second.

Graphics use more bandwidth than text does.

Recent Examples on the Web

Straying from your core product dilutes resources — both in terms of bandwidth and money. —Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024

Instead, give them the bandwidth to focus on mastering the system without the pressure of their daily workloads. 3. —Rhett Power, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

There was a time when Jimmy didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to be there for his own daughter — when a year flew by without any real connection or understanding between the two. —Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024

But remember that the available bandwidth will be limited by the speed of the port and shared among the connected devices through the switch. —Simon Hill, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bandwidth

noun

band·​width ˈband-ˌwidth 

1

: a range of frequencies

2

: the capacity for or rate of data transfer

a high bandwidth Internet connection