![\"expansive](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.attorneyatwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/expansive-or-extensive.jpg?resize=770%2C495&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
Table of contents<\/h2>\n\n- Way Back When<\/a><\/li>\n
- My Dictionary Is Old<\/a><\/li>\n
- Maybe You Meant \u201cExtensive\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n
- In the Immortal Words of Shania Twain<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Expansive. I thought it meant growing larger, as in something is expanding. But apparently now it just means \u201cbig.\u201d The word can also describe a generous, welcoming personality.<\/p>\n
Is this word in your working vocabulary?<\/p>\n
\u201cExpansive\u201d pops up frequently in all sorts of legal writing from website verbiage (\u201cour expansive physical injury practice\u201d) to statements of facts in appellate briefs. I never see plain old \u201cbig\u201d anymore. I frequently see references to a physical space described as expansive. Was that room getting bigger? You mean it was spacious.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s investigate.<\/p>\n
Way Back When<\/h2>\n
The word derives from the Latin expandere<\/em>, meaning to spread out. By the 1650s, the English word was used to mean \u201ctending to expand.\u201d By 1813, the usage meant comprehensive, embracing a large number of particulars.<\/p>\nMy Dictionary Is Old<\/h2>\n
My 1988 physical dictionary sticks with \u201ccapable of expanding or tending to expand\u201d as the primary definition. \u201cExpand,\u201d of course, is defined as \u201cto increase in volume, size, or scope.\u201d As in 1813, the secondary definition of expansive is \u201cbroad or comprehensive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dictionary.com switches the emphasis of those definitions. There, the primary definition is \u201chaving a wide range or extent; comprehensive; extensive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wait. What? Do \u201cexpansive\u201d and \u201cextensive\u201d mean the same thing?<\/p>\n
Maybe You Meant \u201cExtensive\u201d<\/h2>\n
Extensive means vast or far-reaching. The first use of the word can be traced to around 1600 to refer to immaterial things such as extensive knowledge. By 1700, the word was used to also describe material things stretching out or spreading. Gee, that sounds the same as expand. Synonyms include large, vast, ample and spacious.<\/p>\n
Expansive. I thought it meant growing larger, as in something is expanding. But apparently now it just means \u201cbig.\u201d The word can also describe a generous, welcoming personality.<\/p>\n
Is this word in your working vocabulary?<\/p>\n
\u201cExpansive\u201d pops up frequently in all sorts of legal writing from website verbiage (\u201cour expansive physical injury practice\u201d) to statements of facts in appellate briefs. I never see plain old \u201cbig\u201d anymore. I frequently see references to a physical space described as expansive. Was that room getting bigger? You mean it was spacious.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s investigate.<\/p>\n
Way Back When<\/h2>\n
The word derives from the Latin expandere<\/em>, meaning to spread out. By the 1650s, the English word was used to mean \u201ctending to expand.\u201d By 1813, the usage meant comprehensive, embracing a large number of particulars.<\/p>\n My 1988 physical dictionary sticks with \u201ccapable of expanding or tending to expand\u201d as the primary definition. \u201cExpand,\u201d of course, is defined as \u201cto increase in volume, size, or scope.\u201d As in 1813, the secondary definition of expansive is \u201cbroad or comprehensive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Dictionary.com switches the emphasis of those definitions. There, the primary definition is \u201chaving a wide range or extent; comprehensive; extensive.\u201d<\/p>\n Wait. What? Do \u201cexpansive\u201d and \u201cextensive\u201d mean the same thing?<\/p>\n Extensive means vast or far-reaching. The first use of the word can be traced to around 1600 to refer to immaterial things such as extensive knowledge. By 1700, the word was used to also describe material things stretching out or spreading. Gee, that sounds the same as expand. Synonyms include large, vast, ample and spacious.<\/p>\nMy Dictionary Is Old<\/h2>\n
Maybe You Meant \u201cExtensive\u201d<\/h2>\n