Phrase guide

wide area network

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈwʌɪdˌɛːrɪəˌnɛtwəːk/
  • Canada: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A computer network that covers a large geographic area.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: WAN

Antonyms: LAN, local area network, PAN, personal area network, WPAN

Broader terms: network, computer network

2

noun

Meaning 2

a computer network that spans a wider area than does a local area network

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: WAN

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: computer network

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 廣域網 /广域网 (guǎngyùwǎng) — network
  • Chinese Mandarin: 外網 /外网 (wàiwǎng) — network
  • Chinese Mandarin: 公網 /公网 (gōngwǎng) — network
  • Finnish: laajaverkko — network
  • French: réseau étendu — network
  • French: WAN — network
  • German: Wide Area Network — network
  • German: Weitverkehrsnetz — network
  • Greek: δίκτυο ευρείας περιοχής (díktyo evreías periochís) — network
  • Hebrew: רֶשֶׁת תִּקְשֹׁרֶת מֶרְחָבִית — network
  • Japanese: ワイド・エリア・ネットワーク (waido-eria-nettowāku) — network
  • Japanese: ワン — network
  • Polish: rozległa sieć komputerowa — network
  • Russian: глоба́льная компью́терная сеть (globálʹnaja kompʹjútɛrnaja setʹ) — network
  • Russian: ГКС (GKS) — network
  • Vietnamese: mạng diện rộng — network