far-flung

From far +‎ flung (“thrown”),[1] suggesting something which has been thrown a long distance away from oneself.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌfɑːˈflʌŋ/

• Audio (Southern England)

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• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌfɑɹˈflʌŋ/

far-flung (comparative more far-flung or further-flung, superlative most far-flung or furthest-flung)

1. Distant or remote in relationship, space, or time.

   Synonyms: far-off, outlying; see also Thesaurus:distant

   Antonyms: see Thesaurus:near

   • 1897 July 17, Rudyard Kipling, “[Service Songs] Recessional”, in The Five Nations, London: Methuen and Co. […], published September 1903, →OCLC, page 214:

     God of our fathers, known of old, / Lord of our far-flung battle-line, / […] / Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, / Lest we forget—lest we forget!

   • 2020 March 11, Daniel Puddicombe, “Analysis: Little Prospect of Bringing Back Motorail … for Now”, in Rail, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 32:

     Introduced in the 1960s, Motorail was successful at a time when long-distance travel by car was a time-consuming process because of a lack of motorways. Services, both during the day and at night, ran to such far-flung places on the map as Penzance, Fishguard, Inverness and Fort William.

2. Widely distributed, wide-ranging, or widespread.

   Synonyms: common, ubiquitous; see also Thesaurus:widespread

   • 1960 June, “Talking of Trains: New B.R. Research Laboratory”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 328:

     In the spacious laboratories and offices […] are provided not only centralised chemical research facilities for the far-flung London area, but also accommodation for the national headquarters of the B.R. Chemical Services, […]

3. Widely but sparsely distributed.

   Synonyms: scattered, dispersed