Broad-Wide | Commonly Confused Words

Broad

/brɔːd/

Wide, having a large width or extent

I'm not one of those blue-book fancy broads."The night grew broader and less oppressive.He has broad shoulders.

/waɪd/

Having a great distance from one side to the other; covering a large area

The corridor was wider here, the lamps brighter.Porthos opened his eyes to their widest extent.They are very wide apart.

Broad often refers to a great extent from side to side, like a broad smile that reaches across your face.
Wide is frequently used to describe a significant distance from side to side, like a wide river.
Broad can imply not only physical width but also scope or range, such as broad knowledge, whereas wide is more commonly used for physical dimensions.
Broad is sometimes used in more metaphorical or abstract contexts, while wide tends to be more literal.
In many cases, wide emphasizes the measurement or physical dimension, whereas broad can suggest more of an expansive or extensive quality.