spectrum

noun

spec·​trum ˈspek-trəm How to pronounce spectrum (audio)
plural spectra ˈspek-trə How to pronounce spectrum (audio) or spectrums
1
a
: a continuum of color formed when a beam of white light is dispersed (as by passage through a prism) so that its component wavelengths are arranged in order
b
: any of various continua that resemble a color spectrum in consisting of an ordered arrangement by a particular characteristic (such as frequency or energy): such as
(3)
: the range of frequencies of sound waves
c
: the representation (such as a plot) of a spectrum
2
a
: a continuous sequence or range
a wide spectrum of interests
opposite ends of the political spectrum
b
: kinds of organisms associated with a particular situation (such as an environment)
c
: a range of effectiveness against pathogenic organisms
an antibiotic with a broad spectrum
Phrases
on the spectrum
: exhibiting traits associated with autism spectrum disorder
… quiet areas and sensory bags with headphones … and other ways to help kids who are on the spectrum cope with unfamiliar, noisy surroundings.Rachel Molenda
… Stephanie Adams, cofounder of the Autism and Asperger's Society, said: "We started the society because we wanted to make a place where people on the spectrum can spend their time and not feel isolated. …"Kelsey Maxwell

Examples of spectrum in a Sentence

beautiful scarves in all the colors of the spectrum the complete spectrum of opinions on this hotly debated subject
Recent Examples on the Web At the other end of the spectrum, gold — typically seen as a place to park money during uncertain economic times — jumped to a record $2,145.40 per ounce. Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 Their expertise opens doors to diverse roles across the financial spectrum: Public Accounting Firms: CPAs often serve as corporate and executive accountants, providing auditing, tax, consulting, and advisory services to various clients. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024 The spectrum of home styles and finishes caters to various tastes and preferences. Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024 And, while much executive attention at FICCI-Frames will devoted to the premium end of the spectrum, social video remains huge and growing, with Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta (Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp) the dominant market leaders. Patrick Frater, Variety, 1 Mar. 2024 Matcha encompasses the full spectrum of nutrients from the entire tea leaf and boasts higher levels of caffeine and antioxidants compared to traditional green tea. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Where does your own practice as a translator fall on this spectrum? Nathan Jeffers, Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024 And, that there was, and remains, a vast spectrum of Black life. Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 28 Feb. 2024 Other teams are jockeying for lottery odds, or on the opposite side of the spectrum, home-court advantage in the playoffs. Esfandiar Baraheni, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spectrum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, appearance — more at specter

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of spectrum was in 1672

Dictionary Entries Near spectrum

Cite this Entry

“Spectrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectrum. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spectrum

noun
spec·​trum ˈspek-trəm How to pronounce spectrum (audio)
plural spectra -trə How to pronounce spectrum (audio) or spectrums
1
a
: the group of different colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet arranged in the order of their wavelengths and seen when white light passes through a prism and falls on a surface or when sunlight is scattered by water droplets to form a rainbow
2
: a continuous range or series
a wide spectrum of interests

Medical Definition

spectrum

noun
spec·​trum ˈspek-trəm How to pronounce spectrum (audio)
plural spectra -trə How to pronounce spectrum (audio) or spectrums
1
a
: a continuum of color formed when a beam of white light is dispersed (as by passage through a prism) so that its component wavelengths are arranged in order
b
: any of various continua that resemble a spectrum in consisting of an ordered arrangement by a particular characteristic (as frequency or energy): as
c
: the representation (as a plot) of a spectrum
2
: a continuous sequence or range
specifically : a range of effectiveness against pathogenic organisms see broad-spectrum, narrow-spectrum

More from Merriam-Webster on spectrum

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