PoliticsJuly 17, 2026
swath
/swɒθ/
Definition
A broad, extensive strip or area of something.
Etymology
Derived from the Old English 'swæð,' meaning a track or trace left by a mower. It evolved to describe the strip of grass cut by a scythe and eventually expanded to mean any large, extended area or expanse.
In the news
The article uses the word to describe the wide and varied range of American society targeted by Chinese hackers for data collection. This emphasizes that these espionage efforts were not limited to just one sector but covered a broad scope of interests.
What Trump’s newly declassified documents do – and don’t – say about threats to US elections
Read the full article ↗CNN