Extending throughout an entire country; covering or affecting the whole nation. Used to describe phenomena, policies, or activities that span a complete national territory.
Compound of 'country' (from Old French 'contree,' meaning region or district) and 'wide' (from Old English 'wīd,' meaning broad or extensive). This modern compound reflects 20th-century concepts of national unity and mass communication.
Countrywide represents the modern miracle of national consciousness - the idea that events can simultaneously affect millions of people across vast territories. Before mass media and transportation, truly countrywide phenomena were rare; now we take for granted that news, weather, or policies can instantly touch every corner of a nation.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.