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By and large means “in general” or "on the whole" in most contexts, but in sailors’ lingo of yore, whence the phrase arose, by and large described a vessel alternately sailing as directly into the wind as possible (typically within about 45 degrees of the wind)—that is, by—and away from the direction from which the wind is blowing, with the wind hitting the vessel’s widest point—that is, large. (Note that this by also appears in the term full and by: "sailing as directly into the wind as possible and with all sails full.") William Bourne’s 1578 book Inventions or Devises offers insight into the phrase’s original use: “… to make a ship to draw or go but little into the water, and to hold a good wind, and to sail well both by and large, were very necessary …” As has happened with much nautical jargon, the phrase eventually came ashore. By and large, landlubbers welcomed it, first in the sense "in many directions" or "in all ways," and ultimately with its present meaning of "in general."
Examples of by and large in a Sentence
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Federal judges, by and large, arrived at that position without waiting for the rule.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Say that a human life is a metaphysical experiment—though one that, by and large, refuses to think of itself as such.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Store managers by and large received them warmly but said that sourcing decisions were above their pay grade.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for by and large
Cite this Entry
“By and large.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20and%20large. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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