udbredt

udbredt is a Danish adjective meaning widely distributed, widespread, or common across a region or population. It describes phenomena with broad geographic reach or prevalence, including diseases, species distributions, cultural practices, and ideas. The term is commonly used in scientific, policy, and media Danish writing and is versatile across disciplines.

Etymology and related forms: udbredt is formed from the prefix ud- meaning outward or widely, combined with bredt meaning broad or spread. It has cognates in Norwegian utbredt and Swedish utbredd, reflecting common Germanic roots and similar meanings across Scandinavian languages.

Usage and nuance: udbredt is typically used predicatively or attributively and does not inherently carry a value judgement; context can influence nuance. It can describe a disease that occurs over large areas, a plant or animal with broad distribution, or social or cultural traits that are common across many communities. In clinical or ecological writing, it signals breadth of presence or impact, rather than quality.

Contexts: In Danish-language texts, udbredt frequently appears in discussions of health, environment, demography, and sociology. It is contrasted with more localized or rare occurrences to emphasize scale and reach. While generally neutral, the term can acquire evaluative nuance depending on what is being described and the surrounding discourse.

See also: udbredelse (distribution), udbredt (related adjectival form), utbredt and other Scandinavian cognates.