English Lexicon

Overbroad

/ˌoʊ.vərˈbrɔːd/
adjectiveCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #15000 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As adjective
  1. 1

    Excessively broad or wide; too general in scope.

    "The law was criticized for being overbroad, encompassing actions that should not have been included."
  2. 2

    In legal contexts, referring to a statute or regulation that is too vague or inclusive.

    "The judge ruled that the overbroad statute violated the rights of individuals."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'overbroad' is a compound of 'over-', a prefix of Old English origin meaning 'excessively', and 'broad', derived from Old English 'brād', meaning 'wide'. The combination suggests an excessive width or scope, evolving in legal and colloquial contexts to describe something that is too general or expansive.

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