broadband: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to Formal (Common in technical, business, and everyday contexts)
Quick answer
What does “broadband” mean?
A high-capacity internet connection that is always on and allows simultaneous use of voice, data, and video services.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A high-capacity internet connection that is always on and allows simultaneous use of voice, data, and video services.
More broadly, any transmission method or technology that handles a wide band of frequencies to transmit multiple signals simultaneously. In telecommunications, it's contrasted with older, slower 'dial-up' or 'narrowband' connections.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. In the UK, 'broadband' is the universal term for home internet. In the US, 'high-speed internet' is a common synonym, though 'broadband' remains the standard technical and marketing term.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes modernity, efficiency, and essential infrastructure. In UK policy/regulatory contexts (e.g., 'broadband rollout'), it often specifically refers to fibre or cable, excluding mobile data.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties due to its centrality to modern life. Slightly more likely to be used in technical specifications in the US, whereas in the UK it is the default everyday term.
Grammar
How to Use “broadband” in a Sentence
have/get/install broadbandbroadband in [location]broadband from [provider]access via broadbandVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broadband” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government pledged to broadband the entire region by 2025.
- We've just been broadbanded!
American English
- The telecom is broadbanding the suburban neighbourhoods first.
- They haven't broadbanded our street yet.
adverb
British English
- The service is connected broadband.
American English
- The data is transmitted broadband.
adjective
British English
- We're waiting for a broadband engineer to visit.
- The broadband rollout in Wales is accelerating.
American English
- Do you have a broadband modem I can check?
- The broadband infrastructure bill passed the Senate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The company's relocation plan depends on the availability of gigabit broadband for its data servers.'
Academic
'The study examines the correlation between rural broadband access and economic productivity.'
Everyday
'Our broadband is really slow in the evenings when everyone is streaming.'
Technical
'The new DOCSIS 4.0 standard significantly increases upstream bandwidth for hybrid fibre-coaxial broadband networks.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broadband”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “broadband”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broadband”
- Using 'broadband' as a countable noun (e.g., 'I have a broadband' is incorrect; use 'I have broadband' or 'a broadband connection').
- Confusing 'broadband' (the service) with 'router' or 'modem' (the hardware).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Broadband is the high-speed internet connection delivered to your premises (e.g., via fibre or cable). Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to share that broadband connection between devices within a local area.
Typically, no. 'Broadband' is generally used as a mass (uncountable) noun. Say 'I have broadband' or 'I need a broadband connection'.
'Fibre broadband' uses fibre-optic cables for all or most of the connection, offering much higher potential speeds and reliability. 'Standard broadband' often refers to older technologies like ADSL, which uses traditional copper telephone lines and is slower.
Yes, in common usage, satellite internet is marketed as 'satellite broadband' as it provides an always-on, high-speed service, though it often has higher latency (lag) than fixed-line broadband.
A high-capacity internet connection that is always on and allows simultaneous use of voice, data, and video services.
Broadband is usually neutral to formal (common in technical, business, and everyday contexts) in register.
Broadband: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɔːdband/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɔdˌbænd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “broadband desert (an area with poor/no coverage)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BROAD motorway (BAND) compared to a narrow lane. Broadband is the wide, fast road for your data, while dial-up was the slow, single lane.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTERNET ACCESS IS A UTILITY / DATA TRAVELS ALONG A PATHWAY. Broadband is conceptualised as a fast, wide pipe or highway for information.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary conceptual contrast implied by the term 'broadband'?