farreaching

Farreaching is an adjective used to describe something that extends over a large area, scope, or duration, or that has broad and lasting consequences. It is often applied to policies, decisions, research, or events whose effects are not confined to a single domain but touch multiple areas or generations.

Etymology: The term is formed from far and reaching; the more common hyphenated form far-reaching is widely used, while farreaching appears as an alternative spelling in some sources. Both convey the idea of extending beyond immediate boundaries.

Usage: Farreaching is frequently used in formal and analytical writing. Collocations include far-reaching consequences, far-reaching reforms, far-reaching implications, and far-reaching impact. The sense can be neutral, descriptive, or evaluative depending on context.

Examples: The discovery had farreaching implications for medicine and ethics. The treaty produced far-reaching changes in regional security. The report warned of far-reaching costs associated with the policy.

See also: far-reaching, far-ranging, wide-ranging, extensive, sweeping.