broaden the term

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broaden the term" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to expand the definition or scope of a specific term or concept. Example: "In our discussion, we should consider how to broaden the term 'sustainability' to include social and economic factors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Because both the "non-pestis subspecies" in central Asia region and the microtus strains in China belong to the ancient branches of Y. pestis [7] and share common feature of low virulence (or avirulence) to large mammals [3], [37], [38], we suggest to broaden the term "microtus" to the meaning of the term "pestoides" group.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The prime minister will resist entreaties to broaden the terms of reference.

The Guardian

Genentech's approach seems intended to broaden the terms under which Avastin can remain available.

The New York Times - Health

But he does not want to broaden the terms of reference for the royal commission into juvenile detention in the Northern Territory, he has said.

The Guardian

The new rules also broaden the terms of the original bailout to ban a larger number of executives from receiving golden parachutes and subject more to the "clawback" provisions designed to recover bonuses based on fraudulent information.

The New York Times

Almost immediately, Zynga, the creator of social games like Farmville, as well as other companies with offices outside the special tax zone, tried to broaden the terms of the tax break so that it would include them.

The New York Times - Tech

The left-winger is standing on an anti-austerity platform and says he wants to broaden the terms of debate about why Labour did not win last month's election.

Independent

In his closing speech to the Conservative conference in Birmingham, the prime minister will also try to broaden the terms of an NHS debate that often seems unwinnable for the Tories by asserting "you can only have a strong NHS if you have a strong economy".

The Guardian

Outside PLP offices where @jeremycorbyn has made it onto the ballot thanks to support of colleagues who wanted debate pic.twitter.com/Xrj208jITq Many of those who nominated Mr Corbyn said they were doing so to broaden the terms of debate in the Labour party rather than because they supported him for leader.

Independent

Kate Millett's Sexual Politics made the best-seller list in 1970, and in it she broadened the term politics to include all "power-structured relationships" and posited that the personal was actually political.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Goldhagen has broadened the term genocide to include a wider range of human suffering, recasting the problem as eliminationism.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "broaden the term", ensure that the expansion of the term's meaning is clearly defined and justified within the context of your writing. Provide examples or explanations to support the broadened definition.

Common error

Be careful not to "broaden the term" so much that it loses its original meaning or becomes too vague to be useful. Ensure the expanded definition remains relevant and specific to the intended context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broaden the term" functions as a verb phrase used to suggest an expansion or extension of the definition or application of a particular term or concept. It actively encourages a more inclusive or comprehensive understanding. As indicated by Ludwig, it is used to expand the meaning.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "broaden the term" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that suggests the expansion of a term's definition or scope. As supported by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and media and scientific writing. It is advisable to use this phrase when advocating for a more inclusive understanding of a concept. However, it is also important to avoid over-generalization, ensuring that the expanded meaning remains relevant and specific to the context. Alternatives include "expand the definition", "widen the scope", and "extend the meaning".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Expand the definition

Focuses on the definition itself rather than the term.

Widen the scope

Emphasizes increasing the range or extent of the subject.

Extend the meaning

Highlights the act of making the meaning more encompassing.

Generalize the concept

Involves making the concept more widely applicable.

Broaden the understanding

Refers to expanding one's comprehension of the term.

Deepen the interpretation

Suggests a more thorough and profound understanding.

Elaborate on the definition

Implies providing more details and explanations.

Amplify the meaning

Emphasizes intensifying or strengthening the meaning.

Enlarge the concept

Focuses on making the concept bigger in scope or scale.

Refine the concept

Implies improving or clarifying the existing concept for more precision.

FAQs

How can I use "broaden the term" in a sentence?

You can use "broaden the term" to suggest an expansion of a definition, such as, "In our discussion, we need to "broaden the term" 'sustainability' to include social and economic factors."

What is a good alternative to "broaden the term"?

Alternatives include "expand the definition", "widen the scope", or "extend the meaning" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to "broaden the term"?

It is appropriate to "broaden the term" when the existing definition is too narrow or restrictive for the intended application, or when new information or perspectives warrant a more inclusive understanding.

What are the risks of "broadening the term"?

The primary risk is that "broadening the term" can lead to vagueness or ambiguity, making the term less precise and potentially undermining its usefulness in specific contexts. It's important to ensure the broadened definition remains relevant and meaningful.