Breadth is the measure of how wide something is from side to side, or the scope or extent of a concept or field. It denotes both physical width and figurative expansiveness, such as breadth of knowledge. In usage, it often contrasts with depth, highlighting range or comprehensiveness. The term is a noun and frequently appears in academic, technical, and descriptive contexts.
"The breadth of the river required a sturdy bridge."
"She admired the breadth of his argument and its supporting data."
"The course offers breadth across multiple disciplines, not just one specialty."
"We evaluated the breadth of options before making a decision."
Breadth comes from Old English brædþ, which is related to bræd meaning broad or wide, and Proto-Germanic *braþaz. The sense of width or extent developed from physical dimensions of objects to more figurative meanings like breadth of knowledge. In Middle English, breadth appeared in texts describing width of land, rivers, and corridors before expanding to abstract domains such as breadth of experience or argument. The word is cognate with related forms in other Germanic languages, reflecting a common root that signals width or extent. Across centuries, breadth has maintained its core semantic emphasis on the dimension across a surface or range of ideas, while the contexts in which it’s applied have broadened to include intellectual, cultural, and methodological scopes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Breadth" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Breadth" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Breadth"
-ead sounds
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Breadth is pronounced with a single syllable: /brɛdθ/. Start with the /br/ blend, then the short-e /ɛ/ as in 'bed', and finish with the voiceless dental fricative /θ/ as in 'think'. The mouth closes lightly for /b/ and /r/, the tongue sits just behind the upper teeth for /θ/. There is no vowel after /d/ and the /θ/ is whispered rather than voiced. Listen for the crisp ending rather than an elongated sound. IPA: /brɛdθ/.
Common errors include substituting the /ð/ (voiced th) with /d/ or /t/, producing 'bred' or 'breath' instead of 'breadth', and adding an extra vowel like /i/ as in 'breadth-ee'. Another mistake is rounding the vowel to /æ/ as in 'bat' or running the /θ/ into a voiceless stop. To correct: keep a short /ɛ/ vowel, ensure the tongue lightly contacts the upper teeth for /θ/, and end with a clean, unvoiced /θ/ with a small burst of air.
In US/UK/AU accents, the difference mainly lies in the final /θ/. All three are typically unvoiced /θ/ in careful speech. Some US speakers may voice the /θ/ as /ð/ in casual speech, causing ‘bredth’ to sound like ‘breth’. UK and AU tend to preserve the unvoiced /θ/ clearly. Vowel quality around /ɛ/ may differ slightly: US often has a tenser /ɛ/; UK/AU may be slightly more centralized. Overall, the core /brɛdθ/ pattern remains consistent, with subtle timing and air-release distinctions.
The difficulty centers on the final /θ/ cluster, a voiceless dental fricative that occurs after a short lax vowel. Many learners substitute /θ/ with /s/, /t/, or /f/, or drop the ending sound, creating /brɛd/ or /bræd/. The adjacent /r/ also influences tongue posture, especially for non-rhotic speakers. Maintaining a crisp, unvoiced /θ/ without excessive aspiration requires precise tongue placement behind the upper teeth and controlled breath release.
Yes. Breadth is a single, monosyllabic word with primary stress on the syllable, which in this case is the only syllable. The challenge is producing the careful separation and final /θ/ without turning it into a voiced sound. Keep the tongue tip lightly on the upper teeth and release a gentle stream of air for /θ/. Do not add vowel length; aim for a quick, clean closure ending. IPA: /brɛdθ/.
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