How do you use the word "spectrum" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "spectrum" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "spectrum": You can see the colors of the spectrum in a rainbow. There are many ideological similarities between parties at the extreme ends of the political spectrum.

Spectrum Meaning

/ˈspɛktɹəm/

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA range; a continuous, infinite, one-dimensional set, possibly bounded by extremes.

nounSpecifically, a range of colours representing light (electromagnetic radiation) of contiguous frequencies; hence electromagnetic spectrum, visible spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum, etc.

Sentence Examples

You can see the colors of the spectrum in a rainbow.

There are many ideological similarities between parties at the extreme ends of the political spectrum.

A spectrum is formed by a ray of light passing through a prism.

CEFR Practice Quiz

The prism in the lab revealed a continuous ____ of colors from red to violet.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The colors of the rainbow represent the visible ____ of light that human eyes are able to see.

Word Origin & History

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti Proto-Italic *spekjō Latin speciō Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-trom Proto-Italic *-trom Latin -trum Latin spectrumbor. English spectrum From Latin spectrum (“appearance, image, apparition”), from speciō (“look at, view”). Doublet of specter. See also scope.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"As Mr. Obama prepared to take the oath, his approval rating touched a remarkable 70 percent in some polling — a reflection of good will across the political spectrum." — 2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times:

"Current 3G technologies can send roughly 1 bit of data - a one or a zero - per second over each 1 Hz of spectrum that the operator owns." — 2010 October 30, Jim Giles, “Jammed!”, in New Scientist:

"He punctuated his words with a look into my eyes that might have been read as threatening or menacing by anyone who was not on the spectrum. But I am on the spectrum, and so I stared back at him." — 2022, Percival Everett, Dr. No, Influx Press (2023), page 110:

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