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Technical Vocabularynoun · /ˈbændwɪdθ/

bandwidth

In simple English

Bandwidth originally refers to the data transmission capacity of a network connection. In technical discussions, engineers talk about bandwidth when discussing network performance, server capacity, or data transfer speeds. For example, a slow internet connection has low bandwidth, while a fiber-optic connection has high bandwidth. In modern tech workplaces, bandwidth is frequently used metaphorically to describe a person's available time or mental capacity. When a team member says they do not have bandwidth for a task, they mean they are too busy or overcommitted to take it on. This usage is very common in meetings, emails, and project planning discussions. Understanding both meanings is essential for working in tech companies. You will hear it in technical contexts when discussing network infrastructure, CDNs, API limits, and data centers, as well as in management contexts when discussing workload and priorities.

Understanding bandwidth as both a technical measure of data transmission speed and a metaphor for available time and capacity in tech work.

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness5/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓We are running out of bandwidth on this project
✓I do not have the bandwidth to take that on right now
✓We need to increase our server bandwidth to handle the load

Real examples

in a standup

"I do not have bandwidth this sprint to review pull requests, so please ask someone else."

in a code review

"We should optimize this API endpoint because it is consuming too much bandwidth with unnecessary data fields."

in a team meeting

"Our infrastructure team has limited bandwidth, so we need to prioritize which features require server upgrades."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Bandwidth is often used metaphorically to mean 'available time or mental capacity', not just network speed. Do not confuse the technical definition with the figurative usage.

✕The bandwidth of this server is very slow.
✓The bandwidth of this server is very low. OR The server has low bandwidth.— Bandwidth is a quantity with a speed measurement (Mbps, Gbps), not a speed itself. Use low, high, or limited instead of slow.
✕I need more bandwidth to understand this code.
✓I do not have the mental bandwidth to understand this code right now.— The metaphorical use requires mental or available bandwidth, not just bandwidth alone.
✕We bandwidthed the entire network.
✓We increased the bandwidth of the entire network.— Bandwidth is a noun and cannot be used as a verb in standard tech English.

Other forms

noun

bandwidth

"Our CDN has 10 gigabits per second of bandwidth available."

noun modifier

bandwidth (used as adjective)

"We need a bandwidth upgrade to handle the increased traffic."

Often used with

available bandwidthUsed when discussing the capacity currently accessible
limited bandwidthUsed to describe either restricted network capacity or limited time and attention
increase bandwidthCommon action phrase for upgrading network or allocating more time
consume bandwidthWhen a process or person uses up available capacity
bandwidth throttlingDeliberately limiting data transfer speeds

Similar words

capacityMore general term; can apply to people, systems, or networks
throughputMore technical; measures actual data transmitted, not maximum potential
speedOften confused but not precise; bandwidth is measured differently than connection speed

Opposites

latencybottleneckcongestion

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. You are very busy and cannot take on more work. What do you say?

Complete the sentence

2. The video streaming service uses a lot of _______ to deliver high-quality content to millions of users.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses bandwidth incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this using bandwidth idiomatically: 'I am too busy right now to help you with that project, but maybe next week.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "bandwidth" in a standup this week?

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