areawide

Areawide is an English term used as an adjective or adverb to describe actions, plans, or policies that span an entire geographic area or region rather than a single locality. The word is formed by combining area with wide and is often written as area-wide or areawide, with spelling variations depending on style guides and branding.

In planning and governance, areawide describes programs intended to affect multiple cities, towns, or jurisdictions within a given region. Examples include area-wide transportation or housing plans, area-wide public health campaigns, and area-wide emergency management or crime-prevention initiatives. The scope is defined by the geographic boundaries of the implementing body or the policy’s intended reach.

Areawide can also appear in branding or titles of regional organizations, coalitions, or service providers that emphasize coverage across a region rather than a single municipality. In such uses, the term may be capitalized or stylized as part of a proper name.

Usage notes: Some editors prefer hyphenation as area-wide, while others treat areawide as a closed compound, especially in organizational names or labeling. The choice of form is often guided by house style or the intended emphasis on regional breadth.

See also: regional, area, nationwide, multi-jurisdictional.